Self-conscious about her size, Cheryl Mercer, 53, even walked her dogs in the dark – until she made a decision
Standing next to my son Rhys, then 23, as we posed for a photo, I’d never felt more proud. It was June 2021 and Rhys’ graduation from university. But while I felt so happy for Rhys and wanted to capture the memory of his big day, I hated being in front of the camera. I did my best to breathe in and position myself in a way that disguised the rolls around my stomach, but wearing a size-22 elasticated-waist skirt and a white blouse, I was conscious of how big I was. And when I looked back at the photos on my phone later, I was horrified.
‘I look even bigger than I feel,’ I said to my husband David, embarrassed. Fortunately, the pandemic meant there wasn’t the big official ceremony there would normally be, so we celebrated with a family barbecue instead. As I tucked into a burger to comfort myself, I felt so relieved that no one else had to see me looking so huge.
Of course, I knew I had to lose weight, but it was easier said than done. The truth was I couldn’t remember a time when I wasn’t big. Aged 12, I weighed 12st. I was a stone heavier by the time I was 13, and my weight had gone up and up since then.
When I married David in 1991, I had managed to lose a bit of weight, so I was about 11st 7lb, but after having my daughter Courtenay in 1995 and Rhys in 1998, I just kept piling on more pounds.
I did manage to lose weight over the years by following different diets or just by cutting back myself, but I always put it back on again. And when I was diagnosed with a melanoma in December 2018, then needed surgery the following January, I couldn’t exercise and eating healthily fell by the wayside.
I didn’t have a particular weakness for chocolate or takeaways, it was more the constant snacking that was my problem.
Working as a librarian at a university, I struggled to walk from the car park to the library each day – my joints ached and I was always gasping for breath.
As the kids got older, they never commented on my size, but I was conscious of being the biggest mum at the school gates. And now, years later, the pictures of me at Rhys’ graduation were proof that I’d really let my weight get out of control.
BREAKING POINT
Aside from the pain I felt just taking a few steps, I had no confidence to go out with David, and I had to live in ela
