Woman sheds half her body weight after being so obese husband had to wash her

A woman has lost half her body weight after she became so obese that her new husband had to wash and dress her.

Karina Dunford weighed 30st at her heaviest - a time when she was housebound, depressed and only wanted to "eat and drink alcohol".

Now 35, she said she was eating herself to death as she binged on takeaways, chocolate bars and crisps every night.

Karina, from Bridgend, told WalesOnline she decided to make drastic changes to her lifestyle - ditching her poor eating habits and beginning to exercise - and she managed to shed about 14st in just 18 months.

Karina Dunford weighed 30st when she was at her heaviest (South Wales Echo)

She said: “I have so much more confidence in myself,” she said.

“I have loads more energy, I go for walks, and can now do everything for myself. I’m so much happier.”

Karina and her husband Ian got married about four years ago, and he eventually became her carer.

By December 2017 she was housebound and unable to wash or dress herself without his help.

Karina, who had shed about 14st, with her husband Ian (Media Wales)

She said: “I didn't want to do anything. I just wanted to eat and drink alcohol.

"I was constantly comfort eating and, in truth, I was depressed.

“My husband had to shower me and get me dressed every day. At that point he wasn't my husband, he was my carer – that wasn't nice for him.”

In January 2018, she joined a Slimming World group after seeking advice about her weight.

Karina has been named Slimmer of the Month six times (Media Wales)

Karina said: “I was so nervous about joining, weighing for the first time, and meeting new people.

“But after the second week I lost 11.5lbs. I was so deeply proud of myself.”

Every week she would lose a significant amount of weight as she stuck to her new diet and exercised.

Karina added: “I would write everything down and take photographs of all my food.

The 35-year-old is committing to getting down to 12st (Media Wales)

“I would end up losing large amounts of weight every week I went – and my confidence grew and grew.”

She said her life has been transformed and she has been named Slimmer of the Month six times.

Karina added: “I now weigh 16st 12lbs but my target weight is 12st.

“There’s no stopping me now. I know I can reach it by January 2020.

“Now I’m going swimming, walking and catching buses and going to the toning suite in Bridgend Rec four times week.

“Ian has been by my side throughout and supported me in every way.”