HALF THE WEIGHT TWICE AS HAPPY

As her milestone birthday approached, Rachal Collins, 41, knew she had to change

- ASHLEIGH PAGE, SUSAN CLARK

Standing in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection, I couldn’t help feeling sad. Taking in my 5ft 9in and 21st 7lb bulk, I made a vow. ‘I won’t look like this at 40,’ I promised.

At 37, I’d spent most of my life using food as a crutch. By the time I was 11, I already looked much older than my classmates thanks to my bigger build, and was bullied for my height as well as my size. ‘Fatty!’ they’d taunt as I walked down the corridor.

Although I stood up to the bullies and pretended I wasn’t bothered, I scurried home after school and headed straight to the biscuit tin – and then popped into my nan’s house over the road and did the same.

Food became my source of comfort, and living over the road from a shop made it extremely easy to stuff myself with sweets, crisps and chocolates.

As I hit my teens, I continued piling on the pounds. But I adopted a feisty facade around my weight. ‘It’s my body and I can do what I want,’ I’d tell everyone as I ignored my growing waistline.