An obese mother-of-one who feared losing her life to Covid-19 has revealed her incredible transformation after dropping nine stone in eight months.
Tipping the scales at 19st and 7lbs, Rachel Walkingshaw-McGuinness, 30, from Newport, was scared that her daughter Poppy, one, would be without a mother if she were to catch coronavirus.
In December 2020, the mother-of-one started the 1:1 Diet, by Cambridge Weight Plan, which substitutes large portion meals with shakes and healthy alternatives.
She has since gone from a size 24 to a size ten and is learning to love her new figure at 10st and 10lbs.
Rachael, who would splash out £200 on four takeaways a week before her weight loss, said: ‘I was terrified at the thought of catching the virus and dying. ‘I didn’t want Poppy to end up with zero memories of me.’
Rachel Walkingshaw-McGuinness, 30, from Newport, has revealed her incredible transformation after dropping nine stone in eight months (left, at her heaviest at almost 20st, and right, 10st 10lbs)
Since starting the 1:1 Diet, by Cambridge Weight Plan, in December 2020, Rachael has gone from a size 24 to a size ten and is learning to love her new figure at 10st and 10lbs
After struggling with the loss of her own mother Jacqueline Murphy, 53, in 2018, Rachael used food to cope with her grief.
Rachael used to scoff up to four takeaways per week costing £200.
‘I’ve always been overweight, but when my mum died, I comfort ate a lot and used food as a way to quash my emotions.
‘I’d be spending well over £200 a week on food alone, it was so easy to just go into McDonald’s for lunch whilst I was working.
Tipping the scales at 19st and 7lbs, Rachel was terrified that her daughter Poppy, one, would be without a mother if she were to catch coronavirus (pictured)
‘I’d be having a large Big Mac meal, mozzarella dippers, a mayo chicken burger and a full size McFlurry all to myself.
‘Each night, I’d be eating a full pack of chocolate Digestives.’
However the realities of her weight gain dawned on her as she began struggling to walk up the stairs with her daughter Poppy.
She explained: ‘One night, I put my daughter to bed and I was very out of breath from the stairs.
Rachael used to scoff up to four takeaways per week costing £200 and would often pop to McDonald’s for lunch
However her weight gain dawned on her as she began struggling to walk up the stairs with her daughter Poppy (pictured left, and right with husband Jamie)
Rachael became terrified of catching Covid-19 and leaving her daughter Poppy without a mother (pictured)
‘It was even scarier when my husband, Jamie, 35, got the virus despite being on the shielding list.
‘That’s when I decided it was time to do something about it.’
Realising the potential consequences of her bad habits, Rachael turned to a diet which substitutes large portion meals with shakes and healthy alternatives.
She said: ‘I set myself a goal to lose nine stone and stayed on the plan during big events like my 30th and Poppy’s first birthday.
‘I had no self-belief or confidence when I first started the plan, but my consultant was a cheerleader to me throughout and helped me celebrate each weight loss milestone.
‘My goal was to be able to watch Poppy grow up, to play with her, and run around with her in the park.
‘It was sad that I tried to avoid mum and baby groups because I’d get out of breath trying to do the activities.
‘I started off small by getting out of the house and going on small walks around the block as I was too embarrassed to go the gym.’
Realising the potential consequences of her bad habits, Rachael turned to a diet which substitutes large portion meals with shakes and healthy alternatives (pictured, after her weight loss)
Rachael started on the plan and set herself the goal of losing nine stone and staying on the plan during big events like my 30th and Poppy’s first birthday (pictured, after the weight loss)
(pictured left and right with Poppy) The independent consultant has revealed she ‘never’ thought she’d be able to sit on the swings with her little girl before losing the weight
Now that she has reached her goal weight, Rachael is more active than ever and has taken up running and yoga
Meanwhile the mother-of-one also won the Cambridge Weight Plan’s Woman Of The Year award (pictured with husband Jamie)
The independent consultant looks like a completely different person after shedding almost 9st over the past eight months thanks to a strict diet plan.
Now that she has reached her goal weight, Rachael is more active than ever.
She said: ‘I’ve now taken up running and yoga, something which I never would have done when I was at my heaviest.
Rachael revealed she is learning to love her new body and the confidence she has gained from shedding the weight
The independent consultant looks like a completely different person after shedding almost 9st over the past eight months thanks to a strict diet plan
The mother-of-one revealed she feels in ‘every aspect’ of her life, she is now a ‘completely different’ person
‘I’m actually training up to do the ‘Couch To 5k’ challenge.
‘I love my new body and the confidence I’ve gained from shedding the weight. I never thought I’d be able to sit on the swings with my little girl.’
She added: ‘In every aspect of my life, who I am now is completely different to how I used to feel.’
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk