17st lighter and a WHOLE LOT HAPPIER

Dawn Lambert was given a frank warning by her doctor to make some big changes

- ADAM CARPENTER

The screen on my tablet lit up as two beaming faces appeared. ‘Hello Grandma,’ they said in unison. ‘Hello loves,’ I smiled back, pleased that technology meant I could see my grandchildren so often, even though we lived 300 miles apart. Willow, four, and India, two, started telling me about their week. While I oohed at Willow’s latest drawing, I felt so grateful for these precious moments. Because 16 years ago, I didn’t think I’d be around to see my future grandchildren.

Back in 2007, I was over 26st with a range of health issues, including asthma, arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome – and that wasn’t even half the list! Then, at one appointment with my GP, my liver count came back so high for someone in their late 30s that my doctor was convinced I must be an alcoholic. ‘But I don’t drink,’ I said. The tests also revealed a genetic condition that put me at a high risk of liver failure. The doctor was shockingly blunt: ‘Lose weight or you’ll be dead in 20 years, if not sooner.’

I’d been struggling with my weight ever since I’d been placed on bed rest during pregnancy. Then after my son, Daniel, was born it just kept creeping up, until I was wearing size-36 clothes. I cooked meals like roasts and shepherd’s pie during the week, then at weekends I’d have fast food, dinners out and lots of chocolate. I’d tried liquidonly diets and calorie-counting plans, but none of them seemed to work for me.