NEVER THE SAME

Serena Harris, 55, from London, wanted her own success story, but the truth left her with a painful scar...

Grabbing snacks for the evening, I'd have a range of everything balanced on my lap.

From multipacks G of crisps to chocolate bars, it wasn't long until the Indian menu intrigued me enough to place another order.

It was always a Tandoori mixed grill or lamb Madras with a keema naan.

And it was true that I liked my food.

With my weight creeping up on me every year that I got older throughout my 20s, by the time me and my husband David, now 72, welcomed our daughter Danielle, now 31, into the world, I'd already reached a size 18.

Only, as being a new parent took its toll, comfort eating was something that I turned to time and Com eatin some Iturr over time again.

And just as quickly as Danielle was old enough to go to school, I'd ballooned-squeezing myself into a size 30, toppling the scales at 24st.

Looking back at my eating habits as a child, we had a 'don't leave the table until you've finished your food' policy.

We didn't always have a great deal to have, sometimes we'd go through the week eating the same mealsomething like a jacket potato.

So, when I controlled my own meals, I made sure to grab everything I craved-never going without.

Only, with my weight such a sensitive subject, nobody ever mentioned anything to me.

Yet, they didn't need to, I'd realised the extent of my weight gain- it was a sore subject.

Every single thought that I had anyway was selfdeprecating-I hated myself.

Everyone else could fit into the latest slimming trends, however, I had to shop in clothing stores like Evans, where every single item was old and frumpy.

It wasn't like I hadn't triedyou name it, I'd done it.

From fad trends, buying an excessive amount of weight loss books, even looking into hypnosis, I was desperate.