A student nurse lost more than two stone in less than a year and got back into her jeans. Katie Haywood was used to being on her feet all day and her life was full of medical shifts and late-night study.
Despite weighing less than 13 stone, the 29-year-old, from Walsall, said she hated seeing herself in a mirror and had not worn jeans in three years. So Katie joined Slimming World at the start of 2024, dragged herself to the gym after her shifts and ditched microwave meals to lose two stone in nine months.
A student nurse associate at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, she said: “I have always struggled with my weight and tried all sorts of diets, I would yo-yo a lot. I didn’t care about what I ate and when I started as a healthcare assistant on a ward, I had lots of microwave meals because I was so busy.
“I was born with club feet (talipes) where both my feet were turned inwards. When I was six I had an operation that corrected it. It has it’s challenges and you don’t know what you can and can’t do.
Katie pre-weight loss, she couldn’t wear jeans for three years opting for jeggings instead
(Image: Katie Haywood)
“I have weak ankles and walking affects me, I can only go so far. My feet are always weak and I have had numerous operations, the weight really affected my walking.
“I blamed it on my weak feet but since I lost the weight I don’t complain about my feet anymore. I thought it couldn’t be my weight but it was.
“By 2023 I really piled it all on and thought ‘gosh’ when I saw myself in a photo. I wore baggy clothes and as I suffer with anxiety, I was always cautious with what I wore.
“I am only 5ft 5ins so my weight made me look disproportionate, so I thought people were looking at me. Looking in a full length mirror I felt disgusted in myself.”
Katie Haywood, 29, after weight loss
(Image: Katie Haywood)
Katie could only wear size 14-16 clothes and wore jeggings instead of jeans. A friend recommended Slimming World.
She started in January at 12 stone 8.5 pounds and slowly shed bad habits. She forced herself to go to the gym up to four times a week by herself, something she never would have done before.
Microwave meals were binned and replaced with homemade bolognese sauce, skimmed milk and overnight oats. Working on her feet all day was a plus as she hit 15,000 steps daily.
By October she had slimmed to ten stone and eight pounds and relished putting on old clothes that finally fit her again. She said: “My energy is amazing and I am a lot fuller.
“I don’t eat large portions and don’t snack anymore because I have three meals a day. My confidence is fantastic, I am putting clothes on I could never fit into before.
“I say to my partner ‘look, look it fits!’ and he smiles because he is a fantastic support. Last week I went into New Look and I bought a pair of jeans, I have not worn jeans for three years.”
Asked about her favourite compliment she had received, she said: “My other half’s support and being so proud, seeing the difference in me and supporting my meal choices, Slimming World meetings and supporting me if I gained weight.
“People noticing at work as well.”
What advice does Katie have for others struggling to lose weight? She said: “Never give up. Just because you put on one or two pounds you are entitled to life, put it in a box and move on.
“It’s a new week and you start again.”