Mum loses eight stone in six months after daughter, 8, couldn’t give her a cuddle
Donna Shaw, 31 of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, took action and changed her diet after her weight soared to 18st 2lbs
DONNA SHAW broke down in tears when her eight-year-old daughter tried to give her a cuddle – but couldn’t fit her arms around her “fat tummy”.
The 31-year-old mum of two, who is 5ft 6in, weighed 18st 2lbs and was a size 24.
Donna had piled on the pounds by bingeing on 4,000 calories a day — including whole loaves, chocolate, cheese and fizzy drinks.
But since Emily called her fat, she has shed 8st through diet and exercise and now wears a svelte size 10 to 12 — and perfectly fits into her daughter’s arms.
Donna, who lives with Emily and her other daughter, five-year-old Holly, in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, says: “I was mortified when Emily couldn’t cuddle me because of ‘Mummy’s fat tummy’.
“I went bright red and had to go to the next room to take a deep breath so Emily wouldn’t know I was upset. She had no idea her words would hurt me.
“It was the kick-start I needed to do something about my weight once and for all.
“Finally I knew I had done well when Emily said, ‘Mum, you’re not fat any more.’
“She was so proud and gave me a cuddle — fitting her arms all the way around me this time.”
Donna, who has been in a relationship with graphic designer Andrew Paterson, 35, for the past year, adds: “I was always the big kid at school, but it didn’t bother me — I was a bubbly person and got on with everyone.
Diet Before
Breakfast: Nothing
Lunch: From McDonald’s
or Greggs
Dinner: Chips, pizza, bread and cheese, Chinese takeaway
Snacks: Crisps, chocs, toast
Drinks: Juice and Coke
“It was only in my late teens when I struggled with dress shopping for nights out that my weight really started to get to me.
“When I was 17 I went on a crash diet, eating only beans and toast until I lost a stone and ended up a size 14.
But as soon as I started dating my former partner, all the weight went back on — and more.
Donna looks fabulous with her 8st weight loss she now wears a dress size of 10 to 12
“I was comfortable and we loved nothing more than grabbing a takeaway or going for a meal out.
“After giving birth to Emily I was big, but after having Holly I was at my biggest. I was knocking back 4,000 calories a day.
“I’d skip breakfast, grab a burger and chips for lunch and a Chinese for dinner. In between, I would have junk food and cans of Coke.”
When she was 27, Donna weighed 18st 2lbs and struggled to squeeze into size 24 jeans.
Her weight began causing problems when she was out in public.
The former Asda checkout worker says: “A few years ago, I was at Thorpe Park when I was asked to get off a ride.
“The operator wasn’t subtle — he shouted in front of the line that I was too big to close the safety bar and I had to get off.
“Another time I was planning a charity skydive.
“I filled out the application and started taking donations.
“Then the skydiving company got back to me and said I couldn’t go ahead because I was over the maximum weight limit of 14st 7lbs — by nearly 4st.
“I was too embarrassed to tell everyone what happened, so I said it was cancelled because of poor weather.”
After Emily’s comment about Donna’s waistline in 2014, she signed up with slimming firm Cambridge Weight Plan and started exercising in her living room.
She was so proud and gave me a cuddle — fitting her arms all the way around me this time
Donna
Within six months she had slashed her dress size in half and dropped 8st. She says: “My friends noticed the changes before I did but I was feeling better and had more energy.
“I missed bread and chocolate but stayed motivated by thinking about my girls and what it would be like to be able to run alongside them in the park instead of just watching.
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“I started doing squats, tricep dips and push-ups in my living room to keep fit.”
Donna, who now weighs 10st 2lbs, has not just managed to keep the weight off, she has also retrained as a Cambridge Weight Plan weight loss consultant.
She says: “I had to reteach myself about food, and now I home-cook everything and won’t eat anything that’s not fresh.
“Even though I am back in a happy relationship, I’m not tempted by the cosy nights in with a takeaway.
Diet After
Breakfast: Porridge or fresh fruit
Lunch: Salad with chicken or wrap or rice and veg
Dinner: Chicken or steak with pasta or rice and veg
Snacks: Fruit, omelette, cereal bars
Drinks: Water
Exercise: 30 minutes a day interval circuit at home
“I’ve been talking to friends about another skydive or even a bungee jump for charity.
“I’m so far from the person I once was, and I feel like there’s nothing I can’t do now.
“But most of all, my daughters can cuddle me now, and nothing tastes as good as that feels.”
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