A woman who was labelled as 'the fat one' at work has shredded more than seven stone after making several simple changes to her diet.
Leah Taylor, 24, omitted the likes of fizzy drinks and controlled her portion sizes in order to make the transformation, confessing that she was 'never really sure' of her size and wore baggy clothes.
When Leah started a new cleaning and security airport job she says she was immediately called 'the fat one' and quit within weeks. The horrible comment played on her mind for months as lockdown saw Leah reach her heaviest weight of 17.5st.
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As a result, she developed anxiety and a fear of what others would say behind her back as well as developing agoraphobia (fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult).
Leah, from the Vale of Glamorgan, then decided to make a huge change to her life and started a meal replacement plan with diet firm Exante in October 2021, dropping from 17st to 10st today, as Wales Online reports.
At her starting weight Leigh was a size 26 and lived in baggy clothes, hoodies, and leggings. She said: "I was never really sure of my exact size. As long as something hid the shape of my body I would wear it.
"I wanted to lose the weight because I put so much on during lockdown. I longed to be able to wear whatever I wanted in the summer and not live in baggy shirts and leggings. I was constantly hot - even in the winter I would have a fan on me.
"I was referred to as 'the fat one' when I started a new job and left immediately. That was on my mind for months because I suffer with anxiety and I really pushed myself to get that job.
"I felt really bad about myself when I went clothes shopping. Sometimes I'd come out of the changing rooms crying with clothes I wished would fit me or look nice on me, and that's what really changed my mindset - I knew only I could do something about that."
Leah admitted her portion control before the diet was non-existent. She said: "I normally had a big bowl of cereal for breakfast with no portion control. I'd occasionally have a second bowl if I was still hungry. Dinner was whatever my household was having - normally with a side of chips and full-fat fizzy drinks.
"I always had to have something sweet after dinner - a big bar of chocolate most of the time. I actually can't remember snacking that much - I think it's because I was living on fizzy drinks and energy drinks and would eat at meal times until I was full."
Leah now enjoys shopping again and can go out and try new attire on without feeling tearful. She has also sold her old clothes and bought a whole new wardrobe as she is relishing the summer weather.
She said: "I thank myself all the time for taking pictures of myself when I started my weight loss journey because sometimes we can be too harsh on ourselves and look in the mirror thinking we look no different even if the people around you say you've lost weight.
"If I didn't have my photos to look back on when I was doubting my losses I know I would have definitely given up because I was in a negative mindset about myself for so long. I've had so much support from my family and my partner, which is really important when you're on such a big journey where lots of willpower is needed."
Anyone embarking on a low-calorie diet plan or who has a medical condition and is looking to change their diet should seek medical advice from their GP or a healthcare professional first.
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