Claire Ferris spent decades battling her weight, but something had to change
They say the longest journey begins with a single step, but up until recently, that first step wasn’t a problem, it was the keeping going that I wrestled with – especially when it came to losing weight.
My husband Gareth and I always loved our afternoon walks, but as I put on my trainers in November 2019, I struggled to fit my feet into them. I’d been a size seven my whole life, but after gaining a lot of weight, my feet had swollen so much I could no longer push them into my shoes. I knew there and then it was time for change.
On my wedding day in 2002, I felt happy wearing my size 16 dress. I told myself that size didn’t matter. Who cared if I was on the plump side? I was marrying the man I loved, and he always told me how beautiful I was.
But as I looked at the wedding photos, I wished I’d slimmed down. At 15st and 5ft 7in, I had to admit I was obese.
I decided to join Slimming World, and over the course of a year, I managed to lose 4st. I felt fabulous, wearing a size 10-12 and weighing 11st. I was really proud of myself for sticking to the diet.
And it wasn’t just healthy eating that kept the weight off. Walking played a huge part in maintaining my new slim figure. Gareth and I loved our walking holidays to the Peaks and the Lake District. Several times a year we’d get away for a few weeks and embrace the fresh air and freedom that walking gave us. Then, sadly, in 2007, Gareth suffered a stroke, leaving him with weakness down his left side. Although he made a good recovery, he couldn’t walk far, which put an end to our lovely long rambles together.
At first I tried to keep up the walking on my own, striding around nearby streets alone.
One elderly lady always gave me a wave as I passed by her house and I looked forward to seeing her on my walks.
But as time went by, I found it harder and harder to motivate myself to head out of the door. On cold days, it was all too easy to stay inside, curl up on the sofa and tuck into a packet of biscuits. And once the weight began to creep back on again, any motivation I’d had left disappeared. Instead of preparing healthy nutritious meals, I started to buy ready meals and convenience food instead. Gareth worked nights at a local factory, and we didn’t have children. So at night, I’d comfort eat cakes, crisps and chocolate in front of the TV.
Neither of us had many friends and I used food to fill the gaps I felt in my life.
Of course, it didn’t work.
The bigger I got, the worse I felt, and
