A mum-of-two has shared her biggest regret after losing more than seven stone.
Jeanette Painting, 44, said she looks better now than she did in her 20s after dropping the weight, adding that she is in "the best shape ever".
The full-time mum said she struggled to lose her baby weight after the birth of her two children, Taion, 12, and Tarlia, nine.
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Tipping the scales at 19st 13lbs and struggling to squeeze into a size 24, Jeanette said she "gave up on herself", and would wear tracksuits to try and conceal her figure.
The last straw came when Jeanette was on holiday with her two children and didn't want to go out because she was so self-conscious about her weight. In June 2021, she decided "enough was enough" and signed up for the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan, which includes smoothies and shakes.
After ditching oven-ready meals, takeaways and biscuits and sweets for healthy salads and high-protein meals, the mum-of-two lost seven-and-a-half stone in just eight months.
Now a size 12, she weighs 12st 6lbs and loves showing off her new slender frame in figure-hugging dresses. Jeanette says she even feels better than she did in her 20s and is in the "best shape ever".
Jeanette, from Gloucester, said: "I can now enjoy time with my children and be a mum with them. I definitely go on more days out with my children, I will take them on days away whereas before I wouldn't. I can now buy clothes online. I don't have to shop in the plus size section."
However, she has shared a huge regret. She added: "I am sad I didn't take more photos when I was bigger, when I look back and see my children being young it is sad as I am not in them as I am big.
"If I could change it I would."
Prior to losing the weight, Jeanette said she suffered with back pain and "never wanted to go out", but once she started to lose weight her health improved rapidly.
Jeanette's diet before:
Breakfast – Cookie with a coffee
Lunch – Sandwich, crisps and fizzy drinks
Dinner – Burger, oven chips and beans
Snacks – Pack of biscuits, crisps and dips
Drinks – Fizzy pop and coffee
Her diet now:
Breakfast – Porridge
Lunch – Turkey with tinned tomatoes and scrambled egg
Dinner – Chicken and salad or vegetables
Snacks – Protein bar
Drinks – Water, flavoured sugar-free drinks only
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