NOW I'M A GLAM GRAN!

Julia Wilson, 58, knew she couldn’t keep making excuses for her weight

- MISHAAL KHAN, MATT BARBOUR

Peeling back the layers of PPE – apron, gloves, mask, face shield, goggles – I breathed a sigh of relief.  Another stressful day was over.

I couldn’t wait to get home, have a shower, put my feet up and crack open a bottle of wine.

It was January 2021 and for the last year, I’d been working as a mental health social worker in A&E during the pandemic. As well as the challenging 12-hour shifts, I saw patients who were lonely, vulnerable and feeling trapped at home. I did my best but all of us on the front line were struggling, stressed and emotional.

NO RESISTANCE 

Constantly being gifted cake, chocolates and biscuits by well-meaning members of the public and being sent free food from local restaurants was very much appreciated. But it was so difficult to resist all the treats and it was taking its toll on my waistline.

At home, and all out of energy, the only way I could unwind was with a few glasses of wine and more food. It didn’t take long before the weight piled on.

Pre-pandemic, I hadn’t exactly been looking or feeling my best and at 5ft 2in tall and over 14st, I wore a size 18.

I had battled with my weight for decades, especially since having my four children, who by then were 24, 29, 30 and 35.

Then a hysterectomy in my mid-30s had plunged me into early menopause. Over the years I’d tried to eat healthily, and did the odd bit of exercise. I’d managed to lose 2st 7lb at one point, but of course, it crept back on.