I was at rock bottom after losing my baby but found myself again after 3st weight loss, says Love Island’s Jessica Hayes
LOVE Island star Jessica Hayes has told how she was at rock bottom after her tragic loss and splitting from her fiance.
The 28-year-old found herself "drowning in grief" in 2020 after her son Teddy was stillborn at 19 weeks.
Five months later, Jessica's relationship with her fiancé Dan Lawry broke down, leaving her as a single mum to son Presley.
The former reality star admits she lost herself and no longer recognised her body in the mirror in the aftermath of her grief.
But in an exclusive interview with The Sun, the 5ft5ins mum has revealed she's dropped three stone in weight - going from 12.7st in January 2021 to now being a tiny 9.7st.
"I looked at myself in the mirror and thought 'who is this girl?'," said Jessica, who won series one of Love Island in 2015.
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"I wasn't looking after myself and I knew I had to change.
"After the break-up I lost all of my confidence. I was focusing on being a mum and ended up neglecting myself.
"I suffered from anxiety and my mental health wasn't great.
"Once you've lost a child you've always got the fear and anxiety of that happening again, so I have to constantly work on myself.
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"It's always going to be hard and you're bound to keep going back to that time in your mind, but it's made me who I am. I'm stronger and have grown into a woman.
"It's part of my journey, as sad as it is. It helps to make you grow."
After making the decision to overhaul her lifestyle, Jessica lost the last 11lbs by using MuscleFood's Goal Getter meal plan.
The super slimmer plan helped the busy mum get back into shape by eating healthy meals - without the stress of meal planning.
"You don't feel big at the time but you look back and think 'oh wow I was quite tubby'," Jessica continued.
"It's helped so much with my confidence. I feel amazing and it's great to be wearing the things I used to wear.
"I'm back to what I weighed before when I went into Love Island and I don't think I would have done it without MuscleFood.
"I didn't want to cook all the time so having the prepped pots to hand motivated me a lot.
"Exercising obviously helps, but the nutrition is so important if you want to lose weight. Having that plan tailored to you was perfect. It didn't feel like a diet.
"I still used to have a glass of wine and go out to restaurants and having snacks. That's why I loved it so much because I could still have those days off".
Jessica says helping her feel confident when she looks in the mirror has also helped her mental health after a difficult couple of years.
"If you're putting rubbish in your body and not exercising then you're just going to make yourself ten times worse," she added.
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"Now I am stronger mentally and physically. I have started to look after myself and I'm in such a happier place now. I'm so grateful to have done that.
"I have found myself again. I'm back, but a better version."
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Jess Hayes has been following MuscleFood's Goal Getters Super Slimmer plan. Find out more.
Use the exclusive code SUN15OFF2 for £15 off your 1st and 3rd Goal Getters box.
