Stella Jane Thomas, a woman from Kent, has shared her remarkable weight loss journey after losing nine stone without the use of jabs or surgery. The 56-year-old, who once weighed over 17 stone and wore a size 24, now maintains a healthy size 10 and has kept the weight off for 16 years.
A Struggle with Postnatal Depression
After having children in her twenties, Stella Jane suffered from postnatal depression and turned to food for comfort. At just 5 feet 4 inches tall with a naturally small frame, she gained eight stone and weighed more than 17 stone by her thirties. She experienced joint and breathing issues and felt ashamed of her appearance.
Stella Jane said: “I felt trapped in a cycle of gaining weight and comfort eating, I felt such a failure. My self-esteem was gone. I was ashamed of how I looked and how I’d become. I didn’t recognise myself in the mirror.” She became reclusive and cried herself to sleep most nights.
Yo-Yo Dieting and Finding a Solution
Stella Jane tried various diet programmes, initially losing 2.5 stone, but the weight returned repeatedly, leading to anxiety and more comfort eating. “I could lose weight at first, but it never lasted. They told me what to eat but not why I was eating,” she explained.
In March 2010, approaching her 40th birthday, an exercise instructor recommended LighterLife, a programme that combines counselling with a diet plan. Skeptical at first, she attended her first meeting and began the journey.
Transformation and Recognition
Stella Jane initially aimed for a size 16 but eventually reached a size 10, losing 4 stone 4 pounds in four months and gradually reaching 9 stone after a year of healthy eating. “When I first lost the weight, it happened so quickly that people I bumped into in the street genuinely didn’t recognise me and even my own children would lose me in the supermarket,” she recalled.
She completed a nutrition course to understand food better and maintains a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet, while still enjoying eating out and socializing. “My husband Mat supports me completely and is genuinely proud of what I’ve achieved,” she added.
Stella Jane credits her success to understanding her mindset: “For years I thought my problem was food, but it wasn’t, it was how I was using food to cope. Once I understood my mindset and behaviour, everything finally changed.”
