Woman who says she ‘got used to being the fat one’ after being called a ‘pig’ by strangers on nights out as revealed her astonishing transformation after shedding seven stone.
Katie Webber, 23, from Essex, saw her weight spiral after she fell into a comfortable long-term relationship, and started gorging on her favourite junk foods on cosy nights in.
At her heaviest she weighed 18 stone 5lbs and wore a size 24, and was left mortified at being mocked for her ‘tree trunk’ legs.
After deciding to overhaul her lifestyle, Katie now weighs 11st 5lbs and is a size 12, after swapping KFC and sausage rolls for healthy snacks of fruit and veg, and reduced fat versions of her favourite takeaways.
Katie Webber, 23, from Essex, has gone from 18 stone 5lbs and a size 24 to a size 12 and 11st 5lbs
Strangers would call her cruel names like ‘pig’ and ‘elephant’ and mock the size of her legs
Katie, who has been with her partner Adam, 26, for nine-and-a-half years, grew tired of the comments strangers would make about her size.
‘There have been occasions on nights out where I’ve been called a hippo, an elephant or a pig,’ she said.
‘I used to suffer from water retention in my legs and one time there was a group of girls who commented ”wow look at the size of those tree trunks”.
‘It was horrible and made me feel so self-conscious that I wanted to go home, people don’t realise the damaging effects comments like those have on you.
Katie decided to lose weight to give her a better chance of starting a family with her boyfriend Adam
‘All of my family and friends have been really supportive, but I guess I just got used to being the fat one.’
Katie underwent a complete overhaul of her fitness and diet routines while following the Slimming World plan.
‘Fitness used to be the last thing on my mind, I would come home from a ten-hour shift at work sitting down all day, have dinner and go to bed,’ she said.
‘Now I try to exercise three times a week whether that’s going to the gym or going for a walk, it all helps. Not only does it help you look great it also keeps you feeling fab and brings out those positive endorphins.’
Her diet was unhealthy as she would gorge on takeaways, unhealthy snacks and sweets
She dreamed of being able to wear the same sort of outfits that her friends wore on nights out
She has swapped takeaways and unhealthy snacks for more fruit and vegetables.
Katie said: ‘My daily diet has considerably changed and whereas before I would regularly eat crisps, sausage rolls and KFC, I now eat a lot more fruit and veg as well as zero fat or reduced fat products.
‘One of my favourites is bacon double cheeseburgers which I make using five-percent fat mince, bacon medallions and reduced fat cheese, but it still feels so naughty.’
Katie hated shopping in plus size stores while her friends could shop on the high street.
Katie joined Slimmin World and completely overhauled her diet and started an exercise regime
She said the unkind comments made her feel self-conscious and called them ‘damaging’
She’d always had issues with her weight, but it started to pile on when she started her relationship with Adam.
Katie explained: ‘Once we were past the initial stage of attraction I just got comfortable, went out for meals, ordered takeaways and became lazy.
‘I used to eat lot of bad food and none of the right things either. I would barely eat fruit and vegetables and would gorge out on Chinese takeaways and Haribo.
‘I would see all of my friends wearing lovely skimpy dresses and wonder what that was like and how it felt.’
Katie always had issues with her weight, but it started to pile on when she started her relationship with Adam
She is not entirely comfortable with her body yet, but she is thrilled to be able to wear clothes that she couldn’t before
The biggest factor in her decision to shed the pounds was her desire to have children, and she was devastated to be diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which affects fertility.
She said: ‘The condition doesn’t stop this from happening, but it can reduce your chances and I wanted to give myself every opportunity possible to be able to potentially have children and start a family with my partner Adam in future.
‘The easiest thing was to start with something I could control, that being my weight, so that’s how my weight loss journey begun.
‘Adam laughed at first when I said I wanted to lose weight because he has always known how much I love my food but has been amazed by my determination.
Katie now tries to exercise three times a week and has swapped takeaways for fruit and vegetables
She credits her boyfriend Adam for being supportive and encouraging her to stick with her new lifestyle
‘He’s been so supportive, we enjoy finding new recipes and cooking together and he is constantly reminding me of how well I have done and how amazing I look.
‘He’s constantly by my side, helping me through cravings and times when I want to go back to eating junk food. Instead of buying me sweet and chocolate he now surprises me with new Tupperware or new outfits!’
She says she is not entirely comfortable with her body yet, but she is thrilled to be able to wear clothes that she couldn’t before.
She continued: ‘The comments and support I get from people is absolutely overwhelming, people just can’t believe how well I’ve done and how determined I’ve been.
Katie admitted that a lot of people doubted that she would go through with her new plan
Katie encouraged other people who want to lose weight to let go of their fears and give it a go
‘I think a lot of people doubted me at the beginning but now friends and family are showing my transformation to their friends and family which is an amazing feeling.
‘I’d advise anyone wanting to lose weight to stop worrying about whether it will work for you or about previous failed attempts, if you want to lose weight then believe me you can.
‘I’d recommend Slimming World to anyone, walking through the door was scary but you are all in the same boat, there’s no judgement just support and encouragement and that’s what helped me.
‘Get rid of the excuses and the world is your oyster.’