Woman told she 'wouldn’t see 40' sees 12st weight loss and is now fit in her 50s
A woman told her size could mean she may "never see 40" took the advice on board to kickstart a new health and fitness regime which saw an incredible 12st (76kg) weight loss.
Now in her 50s, Sarah Jane Clark, 51, an NHS mental health worker from Swindon, Wiltshire, says she's the "fittest she's ever been" since receiving the health warning from her GP in 1997.
The mum-of-two says she had developed an "addiction to food" as a way to cope with being in a toxic relationship.
But after 16 years of steady "step by step" progress, Clark is now a size ten and "fitter and stronger" than ever before.
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"People don't realise that a food addiction is just like any other addiction," she explains. "It's not recognised at all.
"I always felt alone when I was younger. I had a woman's body really young and I had done various diets by the time I was 14.
"I had such low self esteem and I started using food in a toxic way," Clark continues. "I was in an abusive relationship too so I turned to food.
"I would go to bed and eat in secret. I felt great shame around it."
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But Clark got an abrupt wake up call aged 26, when during an appointment with her GP, she was shocked to be told she "wouldn't see 40" if she carried on eating.
Though she had not weighed herself for years she believed she weighed around 14st (89kg), so was surprised to discover her weight had crept up to 22st (140kg) when she was weighed at the doctors.
"I can honestly say it took my breath away," she explains. "I had no idea how heavy I was."
"The GP was very harsh and said I needed to stop eating because I was killing myself. She said I wouldn't see 40 if I carried on like this.
"I walked out crying."
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Though she was tempted to once again "numb the pain" with food, Clark started her weight loss journey from that day, taking small steps to change her lifestyle.
At first she just walked for 30 minutes a day at night as she was too afraid of being ridiculed by strangers about her size in the daylight.
"After two weeks of just walking I noticed I felt so much better," she says. "That spurred me on to making more changes."
Next she made small food swaps, such as switching chips for jacket potatoes.
Once her weight had dropped to 15st Clark began going to the gym.
She now focuses on eating non-processed foods, drinking four litres of water a day and looking after her mental health.
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"I would say the most important thing I did to lose the weight was focusing on the basics," she says.
"I also had to focus on my mental health as addiction is mental as well.
"I had counselling, do a lot of meditation and practice self care."
Clark also now shares her experience and tips with others and hopes to raise awareness about the lack of compassion she believes exists while people are trying to lose weight.
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"I had a very lonely and difficult weight loss journey so I now want to help others," she explains.
"I work with people to educate families about a healthy lifestyle, small group workshops and one-to-one sessions via Zoom calls.
“It feels really rewarding to help others."
Additional reporting SWNS.
