The 1:1 Diet Family Champion Award Winner 2019
“After the birth of our son, Ellis, I knew something wasn’t quite right. He struggled to feed, cried 24/7 and seemed in constant pain.
“It became apparent something was seriously wrong when he got sepsis at six weeks old and ended up in hospital.
“The downward spiral began with my weight as the vending machine at hospital became my new best friend.
“A week before Ellis’s first birthday, we were given the devastating news that our beautiful baby boy had brain damage. I can’t even describe what that moment felt like and with a three-and-a-half-year-old daughter too, I had no idea how we were going to cope.
“Over the next 18 months, hospital became our home. I have never found anything as hard in my life, so a healthy diet was the last thing on my mind.
“All I cared about was trying to hold things together for my family . . . and eating as much junk food as I possibly could.
“I watched our little boy struggle to do basic things like sit up unaided or hold a bottle. He was also diagnosed with a sleep disorder, which means he doesn’t sleep for more than two hours a night.
“Then, in April 2019, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror. I couldn’t believe it was me. I cried all night and vowed to do something.
“I started personal training sessions but only lasted a week as I was so exhausted from lack of sleep and my awful diet.
“A friend had lost weight on The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan and gave me her Consultant’s number. I rang Karen Beebee, we spoke for almost an hour and I started on Plan a few days later.
“Karen made me realise eating junk and gaining so much weight wasn’t helping my son or me. I had a lightbulb moment and knew with her one-to-one support I could do it.
“I realised I needed to be healthy to support my family and to be Ellis’s legs for him.
“We recently got some more bad news regarding his prognosis, and at the appointment I whispered in his ear that he would never miss out on anything, as I can now fit on a slide and go over a climbing frame with him. I could never have done either before losing weight.
“Ellis still has seizures and dystonia, which locks him in his body. But I know now food isn’t the answer and am enjoying the new lease of life my slim self is having.
“My Consultant has believed in me from day one and I’m starting to believe in myself.
“I now focus on what a fantastic future I can give my son and he will never go without doing the things we take for granted.”