now I look picture perfect

Teacher took snaps every month to inspire weight loss 

WHEN primary school teacher Nicola Williams decided to lose weight, she looked to herself for inspiration.

She decided to take a self-portrait every month to clearly see her progress and motivate her to continue.

Her inspiring photo casebook charts her epic FOUR-YEAR weight loss — from 24 stone and a size 32 to the 13 stone size 12 she is today.

Her incredible photo diary helped her jack in the junk food and bin the bad habits in pursuit of a healthier, happier life.

Now, looking back through the pictures proves incredibly emotional for Nicola, 39.

She says: “When I show people they stare open-mouthed as I flick through the album and shrink before their eyes.

I can’t believe how big I was and how much I’ve transformed. It’s incredible and I love the new improved me.

“My photo journey reminds me of how hard I worked to get where I am today and I hope it inspires other women to begin their own journey.”

Transformation … Nicola Williams was 24 stone and a size 32 before her weight loss journey

At the age of 24, Nicola was 16 stone and by the time she was 34 she weighed 24st.

She recalls: “I worried if I was going to fit through a small gap or get stuck on a small chair. So I’d try to avoid putting myself in potentially embarrassing situations.

“For breakfast, I’d have four slices of toast. For lunch I’d make a sandwich with four slices of white bread with double the filling.

“Dinners were always whatever was quick. Pasta bakes, pizzas and takeaways were my regular meals of choice.

“My biggest weakness though, were crisps. I’d never go a day without eating at least three bags.

“Working as a primary school teacher, the staff room is always full of cakes and chocolates to snack on during break times.”

Nicola, of Llanelli, Wales, was eating around 4,900 calories a day, 2,900 above the recommended intake. And it affected her confidence.

She says: “Trying to run around with the kids during PE lessons and teaching them about healthy lifestyles was always difficult as I felt like a hypocrite.”

She also struggled to find clothes to flatter her huge frame. She continues: “I had to settle for T-shirts that managed to cover my enormous body and trousers that didn’t dig in to my sides.

“The only things that looked good were shoes. I loved being able to walk into High Street shops and pick out a pair of pretty high heels, slip them on my feet and feel sexy.

“So I went crazy for them. Platforms, stilettos, boots, wedges — you name them, I had a pair. In every colour and for every occasion I had shoes that made me feel great.

“Worth more than £3,500, I had just over 100 pairs in my collection before my life changed.”

Then, in December 2007, Nicola joined a weekly slimming class — purely to keep a friend company.

She says: “I swapped white bread for brown, reduced my portion sizes and snacked on fruit and veg. I found it surprisingly refreshing to come out of my normal convenience eating routine and try something new.”

April – October 2010 … Nicola would work out twice a week

Within a month, Nicola had shed 10lb. Yet she struggled to see a difference in her appearance.

“So my friend suggested taking a picture to show me how well I’d done. It was the motivation I needed to carry on,” she says.

“Comparing myself month by month stunned me. My face was thinner and I could notice the difference in my waistline and arms.

“I began looking forward to each month when the time came to take a picture and compare myself to the previous one.”

Nicola also joined women-only gym Curves and began working out twice a week.

She says: “After the first year I’d lost five stone — down from 24st to 19st.

“My meals changed completely to consist of a piece of toast for breakfast, a sandwich with two pieces of brown bread for lunch, fruit for a snack and meat with vegetables for dinner.

“Looking at myself filled me with pride and the compliments I was receiving from friends and family were incredible.

“I was determined this wasn’t going to just be a fad diet phase — this was a new lifestyle for me.”

In the next three years she lost a further six stone, dropping to 13st 2lb.

Nicola says: “Every woman wants to look their best in a photo.

“If I was ever tempted to have a take-away binge at the end of the month, I’d think about having my picture taken and it would put me off.”

And for shoe-mad Nicola there was only one way to mark her sensational new figure.

“In January this year I splashed out on a beautiful pair of £380 cream Jimmy Choo shoes to celebrate.”

Article Source:  TheSun