Mother sheds 15 stone fearing Covid-19 health risk

A mother who feared Covid-19 due to her 29-stone weight has successfully lost over half of her body weight, declaring, “I’m too young to die.” Amanda Hetherington, a property solicitor, realised during the pandemic that her weight posed a serious risk to her health. Determined to make a change, she abandoned fad diets and lost 15 stone 7 pounds with the support of Slimming World.

Amanda, 39, from Flintshire, recounted how the sight of oxygen machines on the news was a turning point. She said, “I thought this is serious, I’m too young, I can’t die yet. I knew if I did pass away, I wouldn’t fit in a standard-size coffin.”

Before joining Slimming World, Amanda would often follow the latest diet trends she found on social media, especially before holidays. She tried every diet imaginable but would often give up after a few days, feeling like she had failed. This sense of failure led her to comfort eat, indulging in Chinese takeaways, pasties, crisps, and chocolate.

As the Covid pandemic arrived, she knew it was time to embrace meaningful change https://t.co/AT4A4qOZs1

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— North Wales Live (@northwaleslive) September 5, 2024

Now, Amanda creates healthier versions of her favourite dishes, which she enjoys with her husband Gary and their three-year-old daughter, Philippa. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “It’s incredible to think back to those times looking at me now. I’ve gone from a size 36 to a size 12. I’m so much more confident and I no longer have panic attacks about my health.”

Previously, Amanda struggled with simple tasks like climbing a flight of stairs. She is now a regular at the gym and has completed a 5k run. She attends fitness classes weekly and no longer feels intimidated. Running has become a newfound passion for her.

Despite her personal success, Amanda continues to attend Slimming World meetings to stay connected with the friends she has made there. “Even after moving house, I still travel back to my original group because of the strong friendships I’ve made. Ditching the fad diets was the best decision I ever made. The habits that my group helped me build are now a way of life for me.”

Amanda’s diet before her transformation included:

– Breakfast: Cereal with toast and butter
– Mid-morning: Cereal bar or chocolate bar
– Lunch: Shop-bought meal deal with a triple sandwich, pasty, crisps, and a chocolate bar
– Dinner: Typically, a Chinese takeaway with beef curry, fried rice, or sweet and sour chicken with chips and starters like prawn toast or spring rolls, followed by a sharing bar of chocolate
– Drinks: Water or diet cola. Alcohol was reserved for social outings, typically wine or cocktails

Her current diet features:

– Breakfast: Overnight oats with fruit and fat-free yoghurt
– Lunch: Spiced chicken thighs with a halloumi salad in pitta bread, chicken or tuna pasta salad, or an omelette
– Dinner: Slimming World’s spaghetti and meatballs made with lean beef mince, topped with reduced-fat cheese and served with a mixed salad
– Snacks: Homemade hummus with vegetable sticks, pitta bread with blue cheese quark dip, and fruit
– Drinks: Water or diet cola. When out, she opts for gin and slimline tonic