THE PHOTO THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

Seeing an unflattering picture of herself, Sharon Forbes, 53, vowed to take action

- SARAH WHITELEY

Wandering over to the buffet table, my eye trailed over all the delicious festive food. Quiches, crisps, cheesecake how could I resist? I was far from hungry - the day before I'd stuffed myself full of turkey and all the trimmings, and today, I was enjoying a Christmas buffet, already scoffing a packed plateful. But it all looked so good.

It was Christmas 2020 and, barely able to squeeze into my size-22 clothes, I was constantly conscious of my weight. But what does it matter?' I thought, popping a sausage roll into my mouth and another two on to my plate. Having spent most of the year working from home in lockdown, I barely saw anyone anyway.

Going back to the table, we all took turns to open our brightly-wrapped presents and I hardly noticed my partner Andy, then 55, taking a picture of me ripping open a gift. If I had, I wouldn't have been too happy. Although I could ignore my weight, I didn't want it captured on camera.

OUT OF CONTROL

Growing up, I'd never been what you'd call a slim child - in fact, as a teenager, my grandma had remarked on my 'thunder thighs', a comment that hurt. But I was always sporty and, at 5ft 3in, I was fairly happy as a size-12.

In 1991 when I was 21, I met Andy and two years later, in 1993, we had Amy. I could never quite shift my baby weight, though. Then, in November 2004, I lost my dad to lung cancer. I was devastated and sought comfort in food. As my weight crept up, I just couldn't seem to control it.

In early 2006, I joined a weight-loss group and, within a year, managed to get down to my old weight again. But it was short-lived. I was made redundant from my credit control job and struggled to find work I enjoyed as much. When I went for an interview in 2008, I could no longer fasten up my size-12 suit.