April 1996

I’m at an exciting fashion event with Mum – it’s teenage heaven! We line up to have a chat with the lady from the modelling agency. She says all the clothes are in small sizes, so I’m not what they’re looking for. I just shrug off the disappointment. Mum’s brought me up to be proud of the way I look – although sometimes I do wish I could wear the latest cool teenage fashions like my friends.

October 2001

I love travel and have landed my first job in the industry on a cruise ship. Although the man who interviewed me didn’t mention my weight directly, he implied that they preferred staff to be a healthy size. I felt a bit ashamed when he said that. I do diet from time to time, choosing something that promises a fast loss. Then, when I can no longer resist crisps and sweets, the weight piles back on.

October 2002

Oh dear. I love my new career, but it’s been disastrous for my figure. The combination of shift work, a sedentary job and delicious food on hand whenever I fancy it, has resulted in a big weight gain. I’m having so much fun, though, that I don’t really care. I can always diet it off when I’m back home.

September 2011

I never expected to meet my future husband on a cruise. But I knew there was something special about Rusdi when I saw him singing and playing his guitar in one of the ship’s shows. Now, after dating for nine months, we’re planning to spend two whole months together in his home town of Bandung, Indonesia. Rusdi knows that I don’t always feel comfortable with the way I look. He insists he loves all of me and doesn’t care what size clothes I wear.

December 2012

Just married! We got engaged shortly after Rusdi moved to the UK and decided to hold the wedding as soon as we could. I wore a lovely cream dress with a shawl. I did consider losing weight before the big day, then thought, why go through the stress of depriving myself? Mum worries that I might develop type 2 diabetes, as she has. I’ve been tested, though, and so far I’m OK. Sometimes I do think I should be more active. Rusdi loves badminton, so maybe we’ll give it a try. It would be fun to do something new together.

February 2013

Disaster: I’ve snapped my Achilles tendon. I was playing badminton with Rusdi as part of my campaign to get fit and lose weight in time for my brother’s wedding. Now I’m confined to the sofa, unable to put any weight on my right foot.

September 2013

My new sister-in-law looked so elegant at her wedding. I feel like I’d ruined all the wedding photos by being such a big bridesmaid. The doctors told me the excess weight I was carrying around was impeding my recovery, which really worried me.

I went to my GP and asked for Slimming World on Referral as I’d heard it operated in my area. It was really hard to admit that I needed help, but I am determined to change.

November 2013

I’m so glad I made it to group that first night. People were so lovely and friendly to me, any initial trepidation I felt quickly disappeared. I left feeling both reassured and inspired. I’ve lost more than 1st 7lbs in just eight weeks. I can’t quite believe it.

Every week, I put on the same green dress for my weigh-in. And you know what? It’s starting to get a bit bigger on me now.

April 2014

I’ve lost so much weight, and yet I’m eating more food than ever before. I make porridge with fruit for breakfast, snack on fruit during the morning, have a big serving of pasta salad at lunch and a cooked meal in the evening. Now I’m getting married again, in Indonesia! It’s a blessing rather than a full ceremony and this time around I’m wearing a gorgeous traditional dress and make-up. I would never have been able to fit into it before. Now I’m size 14, it’s no problem at all. It’s wonderful to feel so glamorous.

June 2014

Oh my goodness. I’m at target. My life has changed so much in just nine months. I was hardly able to do any sort of activity at first, then I joined an aqua exercise class in January 2014, and now I go to Bodypump and spin classes. I also run three times a week.

January 2015

Can you believe it? After all these years, I’m finally starring in a photoshoot! I was so excited when I heard I’d been chosen to appear in Slimming World Magazine. It’ll be a wonderful way to celebrate the new me and will be the extra proof I need to believe that, after being overweight for so many years, I’m finally slim for good.

*Weight loss will vary due to your individual circumstances and how much weight you have to lose.