Bridesmaid drops 38kg after 'shocking' wedding photo

A woman dropped 38kg after a 'horrific' photo was taken of her when she was a bridesmaid at her sister’s wedding.

Ashleigh Bell says the photo changed her life after spotting in on Facebook last July, nine months after the big day.

An obese bridesmaid has dropped six stone after a 'horrific' photo appeared online which made her look nine month pregnant. Ashleigh Bell, 32, says the photo changed her life and she suddenly realised that her size 24 waistline couldn't balloon any further. The mum-of-three spotted the photo on Facebook last July six months after her sister’s wedding in 2018. Ashleigh says she felt 'mortified' by the awful image - which she says made her look pregnant - and actually apologised to her sister for being obese on her special day.
Ashleigh Bell dropped 38kg after seeing this photo of herself at her sister's wedding. Photo: Caters
 Ashleigh with an old pair of trousers) An obese bridesmaid has dropped six stone after a 'horrific' photo appeared online which made her look nine month pregnant. Ashleigh Bell, 32, says the photo changed her life and she suddenly realised that her size 24 waistline couldn't balloon any further. The mum-of-three spotted the photo on Facebook last July six months after her sister’s wedding in 2018. Ashleigh says she felt 'mortified' by the awful image - which she says made her look pregnant - and actually apologised to her sister for being obese on her special day. SEE CATERS COPY
Ashleigh. now weighs 77kg. Photo: Caters

The 32-year-old says she felt 'mortified' by the image - which she felt made her look pregnant.

"I couldn't believe my eyes when the photo popped up on my timeline on Facebook,” she said.

Ashleigh had wanted to lose weight before but says she lacked the motivation.

"As a family we love going to theme parks and we have annual passes but as I was a size 24 there had been a few times where I'd had to walk away from rides as I was too big,” she said.

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"It was always very embarrassing but as I'd spent so many years being overweight it had become part of my life.

"Last July it all changed after I saw the bridesmaid photo of myself.

"I was shocked and upset by the photo I'd seen online but I used it as inspiration to finally get the weight off.”

She went on to use that image as motivation to change her life and has since lost 38kg - now weighing 77kg.

Now, instead of eating over 4,000 calories in one sitting, Ashleigh eats three well-balanced meals per day.

However, her diet wasn’t always as balanced, with Ashleigh admitting she would starve herself all day before binging late at night in the hope of losing weight.

"I wouldn't eat anything in the day as I thought that was the best way to lose weight,” she said.

Ashleigh Bell, 32, has lost six stone) An obese bridesmaid has dropped six stone after a 'horrific' photo appeared online which made her look nine month pregnant. Ashleigh Bell, 32, says the photo changed her life and she suddenly realised that her size 24 waistline couldn't balloon any further. The mum-of-three spotted the photo on Facebook last July six months after her sister’s wedding in 2018. Ashleigh says she felt 'mortified' by the awful image - which she says made her look pregnant - and actually apologised to her sister for being obese on her special day. SEE CATERS COPY
The 32-year-old's life has changed since seeing the photo last July. Photo: Caters

"The only thing I would have is sugary fizzy drinks.

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"But when I returned from work I would be starving so I would eat as many quick easy meals as possible.

"I'd easily consume over 4,000 calories in one sitting, from curry ready meals to frozen pizzas, four sandwiches, crisps, and sausage rolls."

Then, she found The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan and now eats three balanced meals per day.

"My partner, Andrew Archer, 32, has been supportive and I feel so much better in myself and I can finally shop on the high street too,” she said.

Before diet:

Breakfast: Nothing

Lunch: Nothing

Dinner: Pizza / curry ready meal / x4 sandwiches / takeaway

Snacks: Crisps, fizzy drinks, sausage rolls

After diet:

Breakfast: Porridge

Lunch: Chicken / tuna salad

Dinner: Chicken / steak with veg

Snacks: Cambridge Weight Plan products

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