'I was a secret crisp addict - my new diet changed my life'
A Hertfordshire mum-of-two has turned her life around after conquering a crisp addiction that helped her achieve her dream body. Lisa Bernett would secretly snack behind her family's back, consuming four bags of her favourite potato-based treat daily.
At her heaviest, the 43-year-old weighed over 20 stone (st) and confesses she had an unhealthy relationship with food. Lisa would even pretend to order meals for her partner, Ashley, at fast food restaurants just to get double portions.
"Often, I would polish off four packets of pickled onion Space Raiders," Lisa told What’s The Jam. "I just love crisps and savoury snacks... Crisps made me happy as I could just keep eating them and they weren’t finished after a couple of bites.
"I enjoyed Doritos dipped in sour cream chive dip and Marks & Spencer's beef and onion."
On a typical day, Lisa wouldn't eat breakfast but would have two bagels with cheese, onion and 'lots of butter' for lunch, followed by a family-sized packet of crisps. Dinner would usually be a large bowl of spaghetti, roast dinner or takeaway.
Despite Lisa's attempts to diet, she would typically revert to her unhealthy eating habits. The turning point came when her best friend and mother-in-law tragically passed away.
She continued: "We were all heartbroken and any thoughts of healthy eating went out of the window. But as time passed, Ashley told me he wanted to lose some weight. 'I’ll do it with you,' I said. 'There’s no way you’re going to be smaller than me'."
Lisa downloaded the MyNetDiary app which allows you to weigh your food and work out its associated calories. Within eight months, she slashed her weight to an impressive 14st 5lb, while Ashley was 15 stone.
"We were over the moon," Lisa, who has two daughters – Gemma, 16 and Sophie, 13, said.
"That summer, we took the girls on a cruise around the Med and I bought three size 16 bikinis — one black, one fuchsia and one leopard print... It was the first time I’d worn a bikini since our honeymoon."
Now, Lisa's daily diet involves a bowl of protein porridge for breakfast with 'lots of berries', followed by bagel thins with chicken, tuna or smoked salmon for lunch. She'll then snack on some Hula Hoops before dinner, which is normally chicken breast, jacket potato and salad or chicken breast with mixed veg and rice.
This year, the family are off to Disney World and Lisa is keen to get her hands on another bikini - this time in size 10. She went on: "I can’t wait to wear it and show off my new look! I’m not sure I have kicked the crisp addiction but I have them in moderation and include them as part of my calorie allowance.
"I still eat crisps but they’re normally the lower-calorie ones and only one packet."
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