New year, new me: Bank boss hails sons as inspiration for shedding six stones

As a mum, there is nothing more important than your children. And Katy Graham’s sons proved the motivation and inspiration she needed to shed six stone in a year.

Lockdown has forced many of us to lose our healthy routines as we work from home, just a few steps from the fridge.

But Katy turned it into a positive few months, revamping her diet and dropping four dress sizes. “It’s been a crazy year,” she said, “but I have come out of it feeling fitter, heathier – and like a different person.

“Because of lockdown, when I see people I haven’t seen for months, they can’t believe how much I have changed. To be honest, when I look in the mirror I don’t recognise myself.”

Bank manager Katy, from Falkirk, said she had always been the “bigger friend” and, after giving birth to Oliver, 7, Charlie, 5, and Freddie, 3, struggled to lose weight. “I put on weight with each pregnancy,” Katy said. “I kept getting bigger and bigger.”

© Andrew Cawley

But, at the beginning of the year, she decided it was time to take action. “I had to do something. I was just getting too big. I couldn’t really run after the kids, I had a crippling back pain and my feet were so painful, I couldn’t step out of bed. It was all due to being too heavy.

“In January, I just thought it was a new year, so time for a new start.”

Katy, 34, signed up for Slimming World and in her first week lost 6.5lb. “I was amazed. Every week more and more weight dropped off.”

When restrictions closed down face-to-face classes in March, Katy was determined and checked in virtually with her peers and with her consultant by text.

“Being a key worker kept me in a routine, so I batch-cooked at weekends to prepare for the week ahead,” Katy said. “I’m eating far more vegetables and fruit, as well as rice, potatoes and pasta! That’s the great thing about Slimming World. You can have whatever you like – as long as you account for it. I still have a wine now and again, but I measure it out.”

© Andrew Cawley

Katy has gone from a dress size 22 to a 14, and has a new lease of life. “I’ve bought a whole new wardrobe and am wearing things I would never have dreamt of before,” she said.

Katy still has a stone to lose to get to her target of 13st, and a dress size of 12. But she’s determined to get there, after allowing herself a few well-earned days off for Christmas.

“I gave myself Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day off to eat and drink what I like. That’s my present to myself,” she added.

“But after that, it’s back to it. 2020 has been a good year for me, and I hope 2021 will be even better.”