I couldn't wait to meet the NEW ME!

An unflattering photograph of Sue Barnard, 67, was the wake-up call that encouraged her to completely change her lifestyle

- ASHLEIGH PAGE

Topping up my glass of wine, I stood next to my husband Terry, then 62, and we smiled for a photo together. It was December 2020 and with Christmas approaching, Terry and I were enjoying the run up to the big day at home together, indulging in mince pies, Quality Street chocolates and glasses of red wine. But when I looked at the photo on my phone, I was horrified. Surely I wasn’t really that big! I barely even recognised myself.

Terry tried to be reassuring but I wasn’t listening. I couldn’t believe how big my chin looked and how huge my arms had become. I looked awful. Honestly, I felt like crying.

I knew I was on the heavier side – I’d always been that way, and I tried to eat nutritious foods like wholemeal bread and vegetables, but I also loved sugary coffee and pastries as mid-morning snacks, and after dinner I’d constantly be raiding the snack cupboard for crisps or biscuits.

But it wasn’t just my snacking that was out of control, my health was suffering too. I had arthritis in my knees and back and I knew my weight was to blame for my constant pain. But it was only now, looking at a photo of myself, that I realised just how bad it was.