A super-slimming young woman is celebrating her amazing weight loss – after being shamed into dropping four dress sizes by her “disgusting” fat holiday snaps.
India Dixon, 20, ballooned to a size 22 in just 18 months after gorging on chocolate by the packet and takeaways because she was “bored”.
At her heaviest, the former pharmacy worker was snacking regularly between meals, and tipped the scales at a whopping 18st 3lbs (115kg).
She decided to lose weight after refusing to post pictures on Facebook from her holiday to Cyprus last August out of embarrassment.
India said she was left mortified by her roly-poly appearance and said she could not pick one photo to upload to social media out of fear of being abused online.
India, of Evesham, Worcs., joined a local health club that September before becoming a member of Slimming World this February.
She originally set a goal of losing 3st (19.05kg) before her 21st birthday on Sunday (17/9) – but has so far shed an impressive 5st 12lbs (37.1kg).
With the support of boyfriend Jordan Richardson, 22, India, who is now a size 14 dress, is hoping to drop an extra stone.
India, who lives with parents Neil, 48, and Emma, 47, said: “It was only normal to look back through the holiday photos, and I’m so glad I did.
“I had been on holiday with my parents and my boyfriend for a few weeks, and had felt uncomfortable for the whole thing.
“I constantly felt sweaty, and couldn’t sit comfortably on the plane.
“It was when I got back and when I looked at which pictures I could post on Facebook that I chose to make a change.
“I was only a teenager at that time, and I was completely stunned by my appearance.
“It was embarrassing, and I didn’t even put any pictures online, because I was so worried about abuse.
“My parents would never tell me that I was overweight, but I think they deliberately took lots of photos from different angles so I could see for myself.
“That was the kick I needed.”
Unemployed India said she joined Slimming World on two previous occasions but had failed to stick to their healthy eating plans at home.
She added: “I was never fully motivated and always turned back to eating chocolate by the packets and takeaways, until I’d feel sick.
“I then thought enough is enough, I gave myself the target of losing three stone by my 21st birthday – September 17 this year.
“I made the first move in contacting the Health Hub gym in Evesham.
“After speaking with a consultant Clare Bayley, we felt it was best I attended four personal training sessions a month.
“The day came of my first session, I lacked in confidence and continually thought at the back of my mind, I’ve got to do this and only I can make the change.
“Clare was so welcoming. All the other gym members were so friendly, I never thought I’d see the day where I’d say I enjoy exercise.
“The sessions were great, I would be on the treadmill, the bikes and doing weight-lifting.
“By February this year, I’d lost the three stone, felt amazing and felt more human rather than constantly hiding away, comfort eating and feeling tired.
“To run alongside the exercise, I thought ‘third time lucky’, and started to attend Slimming World on Saturday mornings.
“The diet has been fantastic, because it gives me the independence to choose what I eat and isn’t too prescriptive.
“It’s changed my life.
“Slimming World doesn’t make you feel deprived of anything so you can still enjoy chocolate and sweet treats.
“Even though I felt uncomfortable back last August, I’m so glad I looked back on the photos to make me get to where I am today.
“Both places are like my second home.
“As a young adult, I know how hard it is to expect that you need to make a change and approach the correct people, and also feel comfortable and happy along the way.
“I knew I couldn’t make any more excuses and the change had to be made.
“I have a pair of pyjamas that I used to be able to fit quite easily, and now I can pretty much fit my whole body into one leg.
“I finally feel healthy.”
Natalie Moxey, India’s consultant at Slimming World, said: “I’m really proud of India.
“When she first started attending the sessions, she was quiet and reserved, but over time she has blossomed.
“I think that she had tried to go on Slimming World diets before without success, but this time she really has committed to it and has been doing extra gym sessions outside of our meetings.
“She’s become one of the most popular people in the group, and has taken an active role in supporting new members.
“It’s quite unusual to have somebody so young attending sessions, but that’s a credit to India.
“It takes a lot of bravery to go on the scales and talk about your weight in front of older people, but India’s been really good about it.
“It’s fantastic that she’s addressed her weight issues so young.
“It gets a lot harder as you get older to lose weight, especially when kids start to come around and you get engrossed in a job.
“Now that she’s sorted it out at such a young age, she can take a lot of pride from it.”
