THE PHOTO THAT CHANGED MY LIFESeeing an unflattering picture of herself, Sharon Forbes, 53, vowed to take action
Wandering over to the buffet table, my eye trailed over all the delicious festive food. Quiches, crisps, cheesecake – how could I resist? I was far from hungry – the day before I’d stuffed myself full of turkey and all the trimmings, and today, I was enjoying a Christmas buffet, already scoffing a packed plateful. But it all looked so good.
MANAGEMENT. STYLING: SARA A/MACH MANAGEMENT @MACH_MANAGEMENT. DRESS: BOOHOO. SHOES: NEXT. BAG: MODEL’S OWN. AWARD PHOTO: SLIMMING WORLD
It was Christmas 2020 and, barely able to squeeze into my size-22 clothes, I was constantly conscious of my weight. ‘But what does it matter?’ I thought, popping a sausage roll into my mouth and another two on to my plate. Having spent most of the year working from home in lockdown, I barely saw anyone anyway.
Going back to the table, we all took turns to open our brightly-wrapped presents and I hardly noticed my partner Andy, then 55, taking a picture of me ripping open a gift. If I had, I wouldn’t have been too happy. Although I could ignore my weight, I didn’t want it captured on camera.
OUT OF CONTROL
Growing up, I’d never been what you’d call a slim child – in fact, as a teenager, my grandma had remarked on my ‘thunder thighs’, a comment that hurt. But I was always sporty and, at 5ft 3in, I was fairly happy as a size-12.
In 1991 when I was 21, I met Andy and two years later, in 1993, we had Amy. I could never quite shift my baby weight, though. Then, in November 2004, I lost my dad to lung cancer. I was devastated and sought comfort in food. As my weight crept up, I just couldn’t seem to control it.
In early 2006, I joined a weight-loss group and, within a year, managed to get down to my old weight again. But it was short-lived. I was made redundant from my credit control job and struggled to find work I enjoyed as much. When I went for an interview in 2008, I could no longer fasten up my size-12 suit.
As a working mum, life was busy. I’d grab lunch from the food truck outside work and, desperate for a sugar rush to get me through the afternoon, could never resist the cakes that always magically appeared at about 3pm. When I rushed through the door in the evening, I’d make sure Amy had a healthy meal, then throw a ready meal in
