Wrexham woman lost seven and half stone during lockdown

Abigail Hunt, of Brymbo, Wrexham, has lost seven and a half stone with Slimming World, and didn’t see her husband, Darren, for 10 months during lockdown - meaning he came home to her incredible transformation.

Abi, who works at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, said: "I have been a member of slimming world for many years and was always motivated by others in the group who had been successful. I loved reading all the stories in the magazine but somehow, I just couldn't do it myself.

"I would always think I would start after this packet of biscuits was finished or after the next family occasion, I would promise myself that I would be better from tomorrow. I wondered when my time would come to be able to do it. The journey just seemed so long so that extra biscuit wouldn't make that much difference.

"I had very high blood pressure that was medicated and I suffered with terrible headaches as a result. My joints would always complain when I stood up that I was too heavy. As a community midwife I would spend lots of time sitting or kneeling on the floor leaning over babies etc and just the act of leaning forwards was an issue due to my size, getting up was another thing in itself."

This is when Abi decided this needed to change.

Abigail before her weight loss.

She said: "My decision was compounded after looking at holiday photos so I really started my journey for the last time after that.

"At the start of my journey my BMI was 49.8 and by the time coronavirus came along I was just below the 40 which had been deemed to be higher risk for complications.

"I knew I needed to carry on."

Darren works aboard so he was unable to come home as there were border closures, and astoundingly Abi didn't see him 10 months.

She said: "It has been a really stressful time for everyone. I put all my energy into staying on track, by the start of lockdown I could feel my body changing and my health improving.

"I made sure I used our allowed exercise and went out for walks. I was determined to eat healthy and exercise in order to help myself reducing my risks of complications.

"I made sure that every meal counted in a positive way. My family were behind me and are my biggest supporters.

"Together, we enjoyed cooking slimming word meals and filled ourselves with extra speed foods. My favourite meals were not off limits and could adapt them to family favourite Slimming World meals packed with free food they are risotto, shepherd’s pie, mac and greens. I also love the soup range, my favourite being chicken and sweetcorn chowder."

Abigail Hunt after her weight loss.

By the time Abi she saw her husband again, she had lost 7stone 10 and her BMI was 30.2.

"It felt amazing and I was somewhere nearer to being the weight I would want to be," she said.

"I am not quite where I want to be but I am a million miles away from where I started. I honestly felt like it would never happen to me! but with the total support of my family and my leader Diane Hendley-Jones and the rest of our virtual zooming group I know that I can get there.”

Abigail and husband Darren.