Sitting on the floor, I watched adoringly as my son Theo, then two played with his toys. With my newborn daughter Leah fast asleep in her Moses basket, I relished spending time playing with him.
Only, as I tried to get up from the floor, I couldn't. At 5ft 5in and over 17th, my bulk was just too much for me to move easily. Help!' I called to my husband Andrew, then 35. Striding over and seizing my hands, he hauled me to my feet and I breathlessly steadied myself and fell back on to the sofa. This is getting ridiculous," I sighed.
EXTREME PAIN
It was January 2018 and, at 32, I'd always been overweight. Even as a youngster, I'd been big and by the time I reached my 18th birthday, I was already a size 16. But my weight never really bothered me.
Then in 2011, it started to affect my health. While on holiday with Andrew, I suddenly doubled over in pain. Clutching my tummy, I didn't know what was happening. The episode soon passed but over the next year I suffered more random bouts of pain, and eventually, doctors confirmed that I had gallstones - small lumps of cholesterol that can form in the gallbladder, causing extreme pain when trapped.
By the end of the year, I'd had surgery to remove my gallbladder completely.
'You'll have to watch what you eat,' doctors said, explaining that without a gallbladder, my body would struggle to process any fats. But despite the warning, I carried on eating whatever I wanted.
When Andrew and I married in 2013, I was a size 20, and while I'd dieted a little as our wedding had drawn closer, I'd never taken it seriously.
Only when I struggled to conceive did I try to change my ways. Diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, linked to being overweight, I was told I'd struggle to get pregnant without surgery to remove the cysts. Yet I needed to lose 5st before doctors could operate.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on the gender gap, cats and timed hugs
Check out CHICAGO
With a spectacular skyline, sandy beaches and great food, the Windy City is calling, says Zoe West
LET'S EMBRACE OUR CHRISTMAS TAT!
Becky Dickinson explains why she'll still be rocking around her tinsel-strewn tree this year
BURIED SECRETS
We look at the shocking cases of celebrities posthumously accused of being sexual predators-and how they got away with it
FESTIVE NO-BAKES
Pop on the Christmas tunes and whip up a batch of these easy sweet treats
PROTECT YOUR SMILE
Are you doing enough to look after your teeth and gums?
'TIS THE SEASON TO SHINE!
At last, Hayley McCrossan, 39, feels fit and healthy
FOR THE LOVE OF TOM
When Deborah Mitchell, 57, lost her son, she vowed to help other families facing the same heartbreak
THE NURSE WHO LEFT MY GRANDAD FOR DEAD belict
Rachael Fealey, 31, had one question for the woman who killed her beloved Grampa - how could you?
Coleen's MONEY WORRIES
What are the reasons behind her financial and marriage fears?