Motivated by her mother, Grace decided to join the Tesco Diets plan. Grace wasn’t the only one encouraged by her mother’s example, her sister also joined - together the family supported one another on their weight loss journey. Grace lost 2 stone 6 lbs and even managed to fit into a size 8 dress.

Grace tells us why she is looking forward to trying out her swimming costume this year…

What made you decide to try and lose weight?

I was talking to my mother who had joined Tesco Diets the week before, then I popped out to the shop to get myself a treat. I came back with a tub of ice-cream and an enormous family sized slab of chocolate. I could have happily eaten the whole thing in one go. I was disgusted with myself, so I threw the whole bar of chocolate in the bin, resolved to quit chocolate and sign up for this amazing diet.

Was your weight causing you any problems?

Over the years I had gradually put weight on and I didn’t realise until after I started losing weight how much it affected me. I always thought that I was happy enough in my own skin, but the difference in my confidence and energy levels now show me that I really wasn’t. I felt tired all the time and I never had energy for anything. My exercise levels had plummeted and when I tried to do something about it and started running, I found it so difficult. I also suffered from abdominal pains which turned out to be gallstones.

Tell us about your diet?

I thought that because I cooked from scratch my diet was fairly healthy. I’ve now learnt that it wasn’t great, for a start my portion sizes were all wrong. I cooked recipes meant for 4 people and between my husband and myself we would eat the lot. I often munched my way through a large bag of crisps and a bag of giant buttons. I definitely never reached my 5 per day. Now I’ve learned to eat piles of veggies with a bit of pasta rather than the other way around. I have also rekindled my love of fruit; my favourite snack being a chopped banana topped with a low fat yoghurt.

If there is one thing I have learnt from this diet, it is that if you take small steps eventually you will get somewhere. A pound or two lost each week and soon you will have lost whole stones.
Picture of Grace at the photoshoot

Grace at the photo shoot

How has your daily routine changed since losing weight?

I get up to enjoy a healthy breakfast now, whereas in the past I would often skip it.

Has exercise played a part in helping you to lose weight?

I went from barely being able to run for a minute to competing the Great South Run (10 miles) last October.

Has losing weight changed your life?

I almost feel like I have found myself after a long absence. An area that has greatly improved is my health. I went for follow up appointments and scans after my gall stone diagnosis to see if I would need my gallbladder removed, only to find that the gall stones had broken down and disappeared entirely. This is apparently quite unusual and my doctor suggested that is most likely happened as a direct result of my improved diet and lifestyle.

What can you do now that you couldn’t do before?

I spend the day chasing the kids and I still have energy left in the evening. I can even run alongside my son when he is cycling his bike.

What are you most proud of?

I am very pleased to have broken some of the awful snacking habits I had, especially chocolate. I can now walk past the sweet aisle in the supermarket without buying a thing, which is quite an achievement.

Is there anything you have yet to achieve?

I want to reach my goal weight by my 30th birthday. I also hope to run a half marathon by the end of the year and one day I will run a full marathon.

Has losing weight changed how you feel about the Summer?

I’m looking forward to buying a new swimming costume for my holidays and feeling confident in it.

Have you any words of wisdom for future success stories?

If there is one thing I have learnt from this diet, it is that if you take small steps eventually you will get somewhere. A pound or two lost each week and soon you will have lost whole stones.