Mum loses 13 stone and is now 'half the person' she once was by following this diet

A before and after photo
-Credit: (Image: Carys Teasdale)


A mum has become "half the person" she once was after losing 13 stone, or half her body weight, by following one diet. Carys Teasdale fell pregnant in 2020 when she weighed 26 stone and 3.5lbs.

Shortly after that, she found out she had gestational diabetes. When her daughter Alys was born, Carys was told there was a high change she would have type 2 diabetes if something was not done about her weight.

"My eating habits were shocking," the 37-year-old said. "I would usually skip breakfast. I am a chef and would be picking at fatty foods in the kitchen at work. I'd eat a lot of bread and we would always have a take away. Usually a large pizza which I would eat to myself. I was a binge eater. I would binge on a large sharer bag of crisps and not think twice about it. I would eat a full tub of ice cream to myself and not feel ill at all."

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Before and after weight loss
Carys has lost 50% of her bodyweight -Credit:Carys Teasdale

Carys, from Tonyrefail, explained that she had been overweight her whole life and was battling habits that she developed as a child. She said: "I knew I was not prepared for my child to suffer the way I did and wanted to be the best mum I could so finally joined my Slimming World group in Ogmore Vale with my consultant Janthia Bowden.

"I was 26st 3.5lbs starting out and wearing a size 30. Exercise was something I was never interested in, however after losing a few stone at my group my consultant and the other members in the group encouraged me to start moving.

"I was petrified of the gym for fear of being judged so started out walking. I finally managed to pluck up the courage to join a gym and I haven’t looked back. I realised no-one was looking at me, they were all doing their own thing."

Carys has now lost a total of 13 stone and 4.5lbs, which is over half of her original body weight. "I am literally half the person I used to be. What I have lost in weight I have gained in health, strength and confidence. I now wear clothes that fit my new figure instead of hiding behind baggy clothes. For the latest health and Covid news, sign up to our newsletter here

"I am able to go on long walks with my daughter and run around after her. I am a chef and realised I could use Slimming World's food optimising to create the foods I love but in a healthier way. Using free foods and measuring and counting everything else has allowed me to live my life without ever having to miss out. We still have date nights, days out with my daughter and socialise with friends and family. Slimming World literally changed my life and I will never look back."

Carys' Slimming World consultant Janthia Morgan is set to launch her new group in Coity at the Gilead Chappel Hall on Wednesdays at 9.30am, with the first class starting on September 18.