A super slimmer who would get out of breath mowing her own lawn now runs her own gardening company – after shedding more than 11 stone.
Catherine McNulty, 56, had ballooned up to 21 stone and would get out of breath completing the simplest of tasks in her garden.
However, she decided to change her lifestyle after struggling to walk up the stairs to get to the bar during a party at a pub.
She now trims hedges and mows lawns for a living after losing more than half of her body weight without having to give up her favourite foods.
Catherine tipped the scales at 21 stone after suffering from plantar fasciitis, a debilitating heel pain that meant she struggled to move around and the pounds piled on.
However since making simple swaps to her cooking habits, she has been able to drop a staggering ten dress sizes in two years – but still tucks into pies, pizzas and roast dinners.
Now a trim 9st 3lbs, she has been able to turn her hobby into her job as she is more mobile and fitter than she has ever been.
Catherine, of Bolton, Lancs, said: “Myself and my husband started doing people’s gardens last year and it’s something I would never have been able to do before.
“It would take me a good hour and half to mow my own lawn before – not because we had a big garden, but because I was so out of breath and would have to keep stopping.
“Now it takes me about half an hour to do a garden, mow the lawn, trim the hedges and tidy it up – because of the weight loss.”
Catherine joined Slimming World in January 2018 after she was forced to stop while walking up the stairs at a party because she was out of breath.
She shed an incredible 7.5st in just a year and maintained a steady weight loss ever since by cutting out bread, butter and double cream from her diet.
Catherine added: “A couple of different people asked me if I wanted to join Slimming World.
“They said it in a nice way, it wasn’t offensive, they said they’d joined and noticed a difference.
“Obviously it was a bit of a wake-up call, they wouldn’t be asking you if you were 7st wet through.
“I knew I needed to lose weight but I’d been putting it off for a while, just denying it really.
“Just before I signed up, I went to a party with a girl and I was out of breath walking up the stairs to the bar in the pub. I had to ask her to stop while I got my breath back.
“I had plantar fasciitis and I put on about eight stone in four years because I just couldn’t move around.
“I used to take my two dogs for a walk regularly but I just couldn’t stand on my foot with the pain so I wasn’t active anymore.”
Catherine, who would eat toast with jam and butter for breakfast, followed by a sandwich for lunch, now enjoys healthier options such as fruit and fat free yoghurt.
However, she is still able to enjoy her favourite foods such as pasties and pies by using wholemeal wraps instead of pastry.
She added: “I plan all my meals now, I haven’t had a slice of bread for so long I can’t even remember.
“I still treat myself to a takeaway once a month or so, but I factor that into my plan.
“I cook everything from scratch and still eat meat pies, pasties, pizzas and even a roast dinner, which is my favourite, and still lose weight.”
Catherine now walks regularly and recently completed a trek up local beauty spot Rivington Pike, a 1,191ft hill near her home in Bolton.
She added: “I’ve lost more than I weigh now, it’s mad to think about it.
“I wouldn’t like to carry myself around all day, but that’s what I was doing – and more.
“I was carrying myself and probably a third extra.
“I feel so much better now, so more confident in myself and I can do things I would never have done before.
“I’ve been going walking with my sister and we did two ten-mile walks recently which I would never have done.
“I even walked up Rivington Pike, which I couldn’t believe.
“I haven’t been up there for about 20 years.”
Catherine has now become a Slimming World consultant and runs her own group so she can inspire others to lose weight too.
She added: “It’s so supportive, every group member supports each other.
“I would never have had the confidence to stand up in front of a group like this without losing the weight, it has totally changed my life.”
MEAL PLAN:
BEFORE:
BREAKFAST – Three slices of toast, butter and jam
LUNCH – Four slices of white bread with ham, cheese and crisps
DINNER – Mashed potatoes, minced beef, no veg
NOW:
BREAKFAST – Ham and fruit
LUNCH – Salad
DINNER – Slimming world friendly roast dinner with lots of veg