Mum’s incredible 7st weight loss with NO EXERCISE – after getting wedged on Alton Towers ride
Mandee Hall got stuck on the Galactica ride after already being told that she was too heavy to go horse riding
WHEN a mum-of-two got wedged into a ride at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, she knew that her weight problem had gone too far.
Mandee Hall, 37, weighed 18st 9lbs at her heaviest - wearing size 22/24 clothing and often swerving social events out of embarrassment.
The HR advisor from Oswaldtwistle, Lancs., decided enough was enough after a series of horrifically embarrassing incidents, including being told that she was too heavy to go horse riding.
But it wasn't until the skin crawling moment she found herself stuck on the Galactica ride and she saw a distinctly unflattering picture of herself that she realised she needed to address her weight problems immediately.
Mandee said: "The photo taken by my brother was Boxing Day in 2013.
"There were quite a few things leading up to it.
"In that year I had taken the children on holiday, attempted to go horse riding in Skegness and I was over the weight limit for the horse.
"I had also been to Alton Towers with the children and struggled to get on one of the rides and I was absolutely horrified.
"I basically, got wedged into the ride and hated it the whole way around because I thought 'how am I going to get out, am I going to get stuck?'
"My brother took a family photo one Boxing Day and, after seeing how I looked on it, I decided I had to do something about my weight."
Mandee said that she knew she was on the large side but up until that point refused to accept it because she was "hiding behind a fake smile and a bubbly personality".
Faced with bringing up two small kids, Mandee often opted for quick, easy fast food options.
After the picture incident, however, she joined Slimming World and managed to shift an incredible seven stone in just 15 months.
Mandee initially struggled to maintain her weight loss and put on three stone in the following year.
But she lost the extra weight again and she's since managed to remain at a stable, healthier weight.
"I feel happy and I'm content with where I am," Mandee said.
"I still go to group now just to keep me focussed because it is so easy to slip back into bad habits."
Mandee's even been back to Alton Towers since shedding the pounds and says that she's got so much room that she feels as if she's "going to fall out of the ride".
Her weight loss journey has also led to meeting her now partner, Linny Craig - a personal trainer at a local gym.
And it wasn't just her relationship that benefited from the alterations she made.
Her two children, Charlie, 15, and Hermione, 11, join her in meal preparation, cooking, and working out.
She said: "I've not looked back since losing the weight.
"Joining Slimming World changed my relationship with food and showed me how simple swaps can make a big change."
Mandee's diet before
Breakfast: cereal or white toast with butter and marmalade
Lunch: chippy or KFC meal, or quiche, salad and creamy coleslaw
Dinner: takeaway, or chilli with rice and cheese
Snacks: crisps, biscuits, fruit
Drinks: lattes, fruit juice
Mandee's diet now
Breakfast: Fat-free Greek yoghurt with blueberries
Lunch: Peri-peri chicken salad with fat-free dressing, or homemade veg soup
Dinner: 5 per cent fat chilli, cauliflower rice, Babybel light, or lean steak, salad and sweet potato wedges
Snacks: melon, pineapple, apples, Hifi bars
Drinks: 2 x coffees with skimmed milk, green tea and plenty of wate4r
Slimming World consultant, Ian Bunney, said: "Mandee has always been a star member, is dedicated to the plan and tries lots of different Slimming World recipes.
"She's always very positive in group and helpful with other members.
"She's been an amazing inspiration to all of the group."
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