Woman sheds seven stone by weightlifting her way to a muscular size 14

A woman who was has lost seven stone is sharing her health and fitness journey to encourage others who are struggling to lose weight.

Esther Codrington, 40, a medical secretary from Glasgow, was first diagnosed with high blood pressure in her teens.

After eating a lot of junk food throughout her 20s and most of her 30s, she was told in 2017 that her blood pressure had risen again, which gave her the wake-up call she needed to kickstart a new health and fitness regime.

Instead of her usual yo-yo diets, Codrington combined exercise with balanced nutrition and managed to lose seven stone and gain impressive muscles.

“I feel so much happier and healthier now I can wear a size 14 and have made the choice to change my lifestyle,” she said.

“I’m going to shops I’d never have gone to before and can pick what I want in whatever colour, rather than being shown a plus sized rail with a few baggy, dull items on it.”

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Before her weight loss, Codrington was classed as obese and had a body mass index (BMI) of 41.7, compared to the NHS recommended range of 18.5 to 24.9.

Codrington had been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome in her teens, a hormonal condition that can lead to weight gain.

But attributes her pre-transformation size to the poor diet she’d consumed since her late teens.

“I ate a lot of junk and often had double portions,” she explained.

“I went out drinking a lot, too, and would finish the night with a kebab, before eating hangover food the next day.”

As her weight started to climb, Codrington’s self-esteem plummeted and she turned to food for comfort.

“I was caught in a vicious circle,” she said. “I’d eat, feel bad, eat more and get bigger.”

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Codrington tried various fad diets to reduce her waistline, but soon abandoned them only to find the pounds piled back on.

Her turning point came after being told the high blood pressure she’d suffered with since her teens was getting worse.

“[It] was a bit of a wake-up call, as my weight was affecting my health,” she said.

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Around the same time, a work colleague gently suggested that joining a gym might help.

“I knew I wanted to make a lifestyle change and not try another silly diet,” Codrington said. “I wanted something that was sustainable.”

“My work colleague suggested I try Anytime Fitness in Clarkston, which I liked because I could go late at night or before work when it was a bit quieter.

“She also told me that the gym manager, Claire, had been through a similar journey to me.

“And meeting her was a bit of a lightbulb moment, because she was someone who understood how difficult tackling obesity can be. ”

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Claire Murray, 37, helped Codrington devise a training and meal plan, which involved swapping junk food for healthier options such as fish, chicken, vegetables and plenty of wholegrains.

Meanwhile, as well as trying to reach her 10,000 steps a day, Codrington also started spin classes and resistance and weight training to build up muscle.

“The first three or four months were hard, but after about six months I started to really enjoy it. It became part of my life,” she explained.

Visiting the Anytime Fitness gym between four and six times a week for 60 or 90 minute sessions, also helped Codrington clear her head after a stressful day at work.

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Slowly she started losing weight.

“I really changed my mindset regarding food,” she explained. “I’d think, ‘I could have this slice of pizza or make a whole meal for the same amount of calories’.

“I love cooking as well, so it’s been fun making healthier meals.”

Codrington also allowed herself rewards, as long as she remained disciplined most of the time.

“I’d stick to my regime in the week and then look forward to the weekend, when I knew I was going to go out for a two-course meal and enjoy half a bottle of wine,” she said. “That helped if I found it hard.”

Now weighing 15 stone, with a toned physique, Codrington’s blood pressure has come down and she is enjoying life to the full.

Keen for others struggling to lose weight to follow her example, she says the key is to avoid “quick fixes.”

“There have been peaks and troughs over the last three years,” she said. “I’ll admit I’ve cried, I’ve cheated and messed up along the way, but I didn’t revert back, I tried to learn from my mistakes and grow.

“There’s so much pressure on people to lose weight quickly, but that’s not sustainable. It’s about making a lifestyle change.”

Anytime Fitness has over 170 gyms across the UK and has recently partnered with Public Health England’s Better Health campaign to support with improving the health of the nation.

Additional reporting PA Real Life.

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