Standing in a bustling school playground, Bethany Wragg experienced a wave of overwhelming emotion. Yet, this feeling wasn't sparked by watching her child joyfully playing with friends. Instead, it was a profound sense of shame that washed over her. The 41-year-old hairdresser from Sheffield, who once weighed 16 stone 4lbs and wore a size 24, was compelled to confront her weight issues following a painfully honest remark from her young daughter.
A Turning Point in the Playground
Ms Wragg recalls the moment that became her catalyst for change. 'When my daughter started school, I realised I was the biggest out of all of the mums,' she explained. 'Once my daughter turned to me in the playground and said in front of everyone her friend thought I was fat, I wanted the world to swallow me up.' This public humiliation was compounded by another low point during a family outing. 'My lowest moment came when I went to a theme park with my daughter and had to have an extender belt put on so that I could fit on a ride.'
The Struggle to Shed Pounds
For years, Bethany battled with her weight, experimenting with numerous diets without success. 'I tried everything to lose weight, if it's out there, I've tried it five times over, but nothing worked,' she admitted. Her attempts included shake diets, low-carb regimes, and even hiring a personal trainer, but she attributes previous failures to a lack of willpower and what she describes as 'laziness'.
Reflecting on her younger years, Ms Wragg noted a significant lifestyle shift. 'I used to be a competitive dancer, and I was really sporty at school as well, I was in the netball and rounders team,' she said. 'When I left home, I swapped extracurricular activities and healthy meals for takeaways three times a week, microwave burgers and drinking at the pub.' This change led to consistent weight gain over time.
A New Approach to Health and Fitness
As she approached her 40th birthday, Bethany decided she wanted to look and feel her best for a major celebration. This personal milestone, combined with becoming more financially stable and her daughter gaining independence, provided the motivation and opportunity to focus on her wellbeing. In January 2022, she joined her local Slimming World group for the fifth time, but this occasion marked a permanent commitment.
'I stuck to a Slimming World plan, and fell in love with bike riding, going for 10 mile rides every weekend,' she revealed. The dietary changes were drastic. She exchanged fry-ups and frozen pizzas for overnight oats and homemade chilli. 'Before my weight loss I would constantly be snacking. I was always secret eating, and have been known to buy chocolate as gifts for friends and family, and then eat it myself,' Bethany confessed. 'I cut all of this out, and now cook from scratch, and snack on fruits and veggies.'
Remarkable Transformation and Newfound Confidence
Over three dedicated years, Bethany successfully lost six stone, slimming down to 10 stone and now wearing a size 10. 'I lost six stone over three years, and I feel like a completely different person,' she beamed. 'I can fit into short dresses I never had chance to wear in my 20s, and go to shops I've never been able to buy from before.'
The weekly weigh-in sessions at Slimming World became something to anticipate positively. 'I began to look forward to the weekly weighing,' she said. 'The more my dress sizes went down, the better I felt.' Her transformation has been supported by her family, with her 19-year-old daughter joining her on the weight loss journey. They now plan healthy meals together, maintaining mutual motivation.
Embracing an Active Lifestyle
Bethany's newfound passion for cycling has become a cornerstone of her healthy routine. Alongside her husband, they purchased a camper van and now regularly embark on 10-mile bike rides at weekends, with additional cycling around their local area three times weekly. 'I've absolutely fallen in love with bike riding, and I go on long walks with my dog now as well, instead of using the car for the five-minute drive to the local park,' she shared.
Reflections on Modern Weight Loss Methods
While proud of her achievement, Bethany admits to mixed feelings about contemporary weight loss solutions. 'I'm always supportive of anyone who loses weight, but I do feel a little bitter,' she confessed. 'Weight loss jabs weren't really a thing a few years ago, and now I see people losing the same amount of weight in a few months as it took me three years to. I absolutely would have tried them if they were available when I was at my biggest.'
She has found herself defending her method of weight loss as newer treatments gain prominence. 'It wasn't until summer 2024 that I started to notice them being advertised, and then I started getting asked if I'd taken them, and had to constantly defend how I'd lost weight.' Despite this, she remains committed to her lifestyle changes, emphasising that her journey was not a quick fix but a sustained effort.
Bethany Wragg's story stands as a testament to perseverance, demonstrating how personal shame can be transformed into powerful motivation for lasting health improvement.
