A mum has lost an incredible seven stone in a year after ditching her family's £200 a week takeaway habit.
Emma John, who weighed 18st 6lb at her heaviest, said she used to get out of breath doing even the simplest of chores around the house.
She said her typical daily routine involved eating a McDonald's breakfast, a KFC for lunch and ordering an Indian to her house in Maesteg, Bridgend.
But she said the turning point came when she saw a picture of herself at a Christmas party in December 2017.
"I hadn’t realised how big I had actually got. It was awful and the picture was horrific," said Emma, 37, a GP receptionist.
“I felt low and very unhappy with my life and the way I had become. Just because you have a smile on your face doesn't mean that’s how you're feeling inside."
Emma said she had struggled with her weight since she was 11 years old and refused to take part in school PE lessons.
“Healthy eating wasn't really a thing back then. I was unhappy with my weight but didn't know where to begin to even think about losing it," she said.
After having her children, Emma piled on the weight. With four children, after-school activities and a busy work schedule meant healthy eating was the last thing on her mind.
“We would spend an average of £200 a week on just takeaways, sometimes more than that,” said Emma.
But her excess weight left her feeling deeply miserable and with a low self-esteem.
She added: "I would comfort eat to make myself feel better, but then feel guilty for over eating, so eat again to comfort myself again - it was a vicious cycle."
After seeing the infamous Christmas party photograph, Emma decided to join Slimming World in January 2018 in a bid to get rid of her weight for good.
"I had realised I had become what I had been eating. I didn't want my children growing up thinking eating unhealthy is the normal way to eat and having to battle weight issues like I have."
She admitted she was terrified of joining the group and found herself visibly shaking.
"But the support and complete friendliness and compassion that was shown in the group inspired me to stay," she added.
"I nervously stood on the scales, nearly in tears when seeing my weight appear on the scales. I knew at that moment that was going to be the last time I would weigh that heavy again."
Slimming World has a 'Food Optimising' plan where members are given a list of "Syn free" food that can be eaten in unlimited amounts.
The programme encourages dieters to swap high-fat foods for low-fat foods that are naturally filling.
Emma quickly adapted and started making her own cooked breakfasts, lasagne, and eating "fakeaway" meals such as Slimming World spicy chicken and curries.
Within 13 months she had lost seven stone and reached her personal target weight in January.
“I am fitter, more energetic, happy and much more confident.
"It’s the best decision I have made for not only myself but by family as well. Childhood obesity is on the rise and in doing what I have, my children are more aware of healthy eating and how important it is."
Emma now enjoys a very active life and runs two to three times a week.
"I couldn't even run to the fridge to get a bar of chocolate before my weight loss," she admitted.
In addition to Emma losing seven stone, her husband has lost four stone and her eldest son a stone and a half.
Emma now runs her own Slimming World Group at Cefn Cribwr Athletic Club in Bridgend every Wednesday at 5.30pm.
For more information call 07305 834594.
