A former french fry addict who saw her weight more than double after being dumped by her fiancé has shared photos of her incredible transformation.
Shelbie Hensel, 24, from Wallaceburg, Ontario, gained more than 130lbs (9st 4lbs) while pregnant with her daughter Preslie and tipped the scales at 262lbs (18st 10lbs) after her birth in November 2014.
The mother-of-one said she locked herself at home and binge ate after Preslie’s father left when she was three months pregnant.
She gorged on bowls of french fries and bags of chips with dip and, at her heaviest said she abandoned jeans in favor of elasticated size XL pants.
But after cutting out junk and starting to go for daily walks she dropped 127lbs (9st 1lb) and now wears small to medium clothing. She sitll allows herself a weekly cheat day – and says she feels ‘amazing’.
Shelbie Hensel, 24, from Wallaceburg, Ontario lost 127lbs (9st 1lb) by cutting out junk food and going for daily walks
The mother-of-one gained 130lbs (9st 4lbs) while pregnant with her daughter Preslie
The glamorous blonde said: ‘Luckily I didn’t have any problems with my pregnancy, it was healthy but I was under so much stress.
‘My fiancé left me when I was three months pregnant and that was tough. I was so embarrassed.
‘I turned to food as a comfort. I am a big chips and french fry girl and I just indulged in my favorite things when I was pregnant.
‘I became a hermit who just hid away and did not leave the house, eating everything and anything in sight. My activity level dropped to nothing.
Shelbie’s weight hit 262lbs (18st 10lbs) as she comfort ate to deal with the heartbreak of her fiancé leaving her
When Preslie reached her first birthday, her mother was struggling to get down on the floor and play with her and would get out of breath going upstairs
‘I could not even consider wearing jeans anymore, they would dig into me and it was just way too uncomfortable.’
Ahead of Preslie’s first birthday, the full-time mother said her frame was so big, even getting onto the floor to play with her baby was painful.
She said: ‘When my daughter was about one year old, it came to the point where I couldn’t even get down on my knees to play with her.
‘I would get out of breath even going up the stairs.
Once she’d lost some weight, Shelbie got a gym membership and would work out when there was nobody else around as she felt more comfortable
The mother-of-one still allows herself treat days and says she’s never felt better
Shelbie Hensel pictured with her three-year-old daughter Preslie on her birthday
Shelbie Hensel is proud of her new body after losing 130lbs and has ditched her XL leggings for good
‘My body wasn’t used to the weight either because all through my high school years I was fit and I was a healthy size.
‘I was 22 and 262lbs and it was at that point. I was so embarrassed by my weight, I absolutely hated my big stomach. I just knew something had to change.’
Shelbie began making small changes to her diet and began to set out on short walks, determined to shift the pounds.
At the beginning of her journey, Shelbie stood in front of her bathroom mirror and posed for a before picture to track her progress.
At the beginning of her journey, Shelbie stood in front of her bathroom mirror and posed for a before picture to track her progress (left). Right: A mirror selfie after shedding 130lbs
‘They were just for my personal use to motivate me but they were very hard to look at. I was so embarrassed. Why had I let it get this bad?
‘I would leave my daughter with my mom and just walk for 15 minutes. When I first started that 15-minute walk was so hard for me. I would be out of breath.
‘Eventually, I built it up to a 30-minute walk and then an hour, and then a jog.
‘When I lost a bit of weight I got a gym membership and would go at times when I knew nobody would be there.
The mother-of-one was left devastated when her fiance dumped her while she was three months pregnant with their first child. Shelbie has now lost weight after beating her addiction to French Fries
‘I’m a girl who really loves food so I knew I couldn’t deprive myself. Now I allow myself one cheat day a week and I eat what I want.
‘Overall I’ve tried to cut down on carbs and introduce good fats into my everyday diet.’
Despite losing almost 130lbs, Shelbie said it’s hard to live with the loose skin and stretch marks left behind as a result of her weight loss.
‘I know I’m never going to wear bikinis because I’m still not 100 per cent confident with my body but I am proud of myself and my hard work.
‘I’ve lost 127lbs and that’s amazing.’