In 2006 I decided that I needed to be more mindful of what I ate. Oddly, that’s when my weight started to creep up. Over the next seven years I went from a size 8 to a size 18, up to a maximum of 12st 7lb. I tried calorie counting, Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Diet Chef, going to the gym, jogging, cycling. Nothing made any lasting change.

There was no real “turning point”, I didn’t have an epiphany or try a different approach that made all the difference. In May 2013 one of my friends got married, it was a great day and I was thrilled to bits for him, especially with the excitement of my own wedding to look forward to. However, when it came to looking at all the photos online my thoughts were “Yuck”. There wasn’t a single photo with me in that I could look at and think “That’s nice.”

I decided to have another go at losing weight. I wasn’t expecting success; I didn’t take any before photos. If I didn’t loose weight I was hoping I could prove to a doctor that I was doing what I should be and so they could investigate into what was wrong with me. So I followed the NHS 12-week weight loss guide.

It worked. I don’t know why, after all my failed attempts, but after twelve weeks I had not only lost a couple of pounds but eight, over half a stone. Yes, my weight had weeks where it went up and not down, but it was more weight loss than I’d ever managed, let along maintained, before.

As of August 2014, I am half way to my ideal BMI weight. (Don’t worry; I’m swapping to measuring by body fat percentage as soon as my BMI is back into the healthy range). I am a size 12 and have lost 2st and 2lb, it has been slow going, it still is, but somehow I am still losing weight.

There are times I’ve felt so estranged from who I thought I was, I love food, I love drink but now I don’t even miss the food and drink I used to consume just because they were yummy. It’s weird to think that this healthier person is me, but I hope I can keep it up.