In a size 20 dress Little Mermaid fan Catherine Brown knew she had to change her eating habits to be more like her favourite Disney Princess Ariel.
And she ditched her treat box of chocolates, crisps and jellies for healthy meals and halved her dress size to a petite size 10 in time to meet her.
Mum-of-two Catherine had booked a trip to Disney World in Florida and decided she didn’t want to get her picture taken sitting next the slender character looking how she was.
And it was the best incentive she needed to kick-start her diet.
Now she is looking forward to getting married to Craig Robson, 35, after 13 years of being together and will be literally half the woman she used to be as she walks down the aisle this summer.
“I used to binge eat and sometimes secretly eat, especially when my other half is working shifts. When my two kids were tucked up in bed I used to tuck into their sweetie boxes of buy share bags of chocolate, crisps or jelly’s and eat the lot in one sitting,” said Catherine, 38. of Hebburn, South Tyneside.
“Comfort and emotional eating was what I did best. And it steadily got worse after I lost my father at the age of 20.
See how this super mum uses her baby as a dumbbell to get back into shape
“I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in November 2016 and I was told I had to take tablets for the rest of my life for it. I also suffer from an autoimmune disease called Lupus and arthritis which takes its toll on my body inside and out and can attack healthy organs.
"Having this to deal with, me being overweight and my high blood pressure didn’t help matters. Feeling uncomfortable in my own skin, hating what I saw in the mirror, hating the feeling of disappointment when I went clothes shopping, I knew it was time to do something about my health and weight.
“My Lupus consultant had in the past mentioned my weight and that it was a problem for my Lupus ‘flare ups’.
“Me and my other half booked up to go to Disney Florida with our two children in October 2017. What better reasons to loose weight as I never wanted to sit next to my favourite Disney Princess Ariel as a size 20. My motivation kicked in right there and then. It was time to face the music and join a weight loss group.”
Catherine joined Slimming World held at Headley Hall, in Hebburn, South Tyneside, and her life changed for the better.
From weighing 15 stone she lost five stones and is feeling fantastic.
She added: “I was shocked to my core when I got on the scales and saw that I weighed 15 stone exactly, the heaviest I have ever been and at a size 20. I would say I hid my weight very well, always wearing big baggy clothes and scarfs.
"Scarfs where my comfort blanket and would wear them all year round to hide behind. I was asked if I wanted to set a target and without thinking I said 10 stone. I never in my dreams thought I would ever reach this or even think that my body would ever get to this weight. But I love the eating plan as it is easy to follow and I picked it up with ease.”
Super slimmer dropped FOUR dress sizes so she could play with her children again
Catherine set herself weight regular targets and would rewards herself with gifts.
“I promised myself when I reached every stone off I would have a treat, this treat was never food. For the first stone I lost I got a apple cutter from Asda, my second stone - a new eye lash curler, third stone - a new foundation, fourth stone - a new hairstyle and colour and my fifth stone was a pair of Levi jeans.
“I was voted Group Woman of the Year, Group Miss Slinky and runner up to our Group Biggest Loser. I also won many Slimmer of the Week and Month throughout my journey,” added Catherine.
The mum-of-two now says she has a lot to look forward to. She now has enough energy to run and play with her children, her life span has been extended and she can enjoy her days with her family.
“It took me exactly 10 months to reach my 10 stone target, a week before my Disney Florida holiday of a lifetime. And when we were in Disney my other half bought me my very first pair of target jeans, my Levis. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would ever fit in these jeans. And I sat next to Ariel five stones lighter and at a size 10, and felt great.
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“I’m now looking forward to getting married. We finally set a date after 13 years together this year in July. I am feeling completely comfortable in my own skin. And I can’t wait to see the looks on a lot of people’s faces at my wedding who haven’t seen me at this new size.”
Catherine attends the Slimming World class ran by Davina Smith who holds sessions at Hedley Hall, Hebburn, on Thursdays at 5pm and 7pm and at the Masonic Hall in Hebburn on Saturdays at 8.30am and 10.30am. For more information contact Davina on 07783073450.
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