23 stone grandmother loses ten stone in only seven months

Mother who tipped the scales at 23st reveals how she lost 10 STONE in seven months after using lockdown to kickstart her diet and exercise regime

• Sarah Armstrong, 45, from Lockerbie,  lost an incredible 10 stone in 7 months
• Mother -of-two was a takeaway addict and weighed 23 stone before lockdown
• She is now a size 14 after working exercising and cutting down her food intake

An obese mother has revealed her incredible transformation after she lost ten stone in just seven months.

Sarah Armstrong, 45, from Lockerbie, weighed 23 stone when the UK went into lockdown in March 2020, caused by eating a lot of takeaways and snacks, as well as a health condition that made it hard for her to exercise.

She said she had ‘no confidence’ and was left devastated when she tried to put on a size 28 top and was unable to get it on, deciding she needed to change.

The grandmother-of-five committed to a diet plan and using lockdown as an opportunity to work out at home, and now is a svelte size 14. 

Sarah Armstrong, 45, from Lockerbie, weighed 23 stone when the UK went into lockdown in March 2020, caused by eating a lot of takeaways and snacks, as well as a health condition that made it hard for her to exercise (left). She has since lost 10 stone (right) 

Sarah piled on the pounds as her fibromyalgia and a slipped hernia disk left her unable to do any exercise, and her asthma left her continuously out of breath. 

Sarah said, ‘I ordered some new clothes in a size 28, and that was me ordering two sizes above.

‘When it came, however, nothing fitted me. It was heartbreaking.’

Sarah cried when she realised how much weight she had put on and said that it was like she hit a wall that day, but when the second lockdown started in November 2020  she saw it as an opportunity.  

After a month on her new diet, Sarah was able to exercise again and started going out on walks, she also started eating vegetables, salads and much smaller portions (pictured, after her weight loss) 

Sarah cried when she realised how much weight she had put on and said that it was like she hit a wall that day, but when the second lockdown started in November 2020 she saw it as an opportunity (left and right, before her weight loss)  

WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition defined by widespread pain and fatigue.

It affects up to 2.7 per cent of people worldwide, with three women suffering for every one man, studies suggest.

Fibromyalgia is often triggered by a trauma, such as a car accident or childbirth, as well as infections. Why this occurs is unclear.

The discomfort tends to be felt as aches and burning from head-to-toe.

And the fatigue ranges from feeling sleepy to the exhaustion of having the flu.

Severe sufferers are often unable to work or socialise. 

The pain can be worse at some times than others and may change location, such as becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used the most.

Other symptoms can include headaches; IBS; diarrhoea or constipation; poor concentration; dizziness; allergies and stimuli sensitivity, such as to light or heat.

Studies suggest the average patient waits five years to be diagnosed, which is thought to be due to X-rays and other medical tests not picking the condition up.

It is generally defined as pain that lasts for more than three months and affects 11 or more out of 18 tender points when pressed.

Treatment aims to relieve pain and aid sleep.

Source: Fibromyalgia Action UK  

‘I thought it was time for a change,’ She said, ‘for everyone, including my family.’ 

‘I felt like I was missing out. I wasn’t able to go walks with my grandchildren.’

After being left stunned by her size, Sarah quickly found a weight loss plan with Cambridge 1:1 and was set up with a new calorie-restrictive diet plan.    

After a month on her new diet, Sarah was able to exercise again and started going out on walks.

She also got a treadmill in the house, as well as a cross-trainer, saying: ‘The new plan got me on three meals a day, and one snack.’

‘I started eating vegetables, salads, and in much smaller portions.

‘I’ve had to go shopping for all new clothes, it’s fantastic. ‘I’ve been to River Island, New Look, TK Maxx and just stocked up.’

After starting the diet plan in November 2020, Sarah was left chuffed with being able to have fun again with her grandkids, no longer needs a walking stick, and is loving shopping for new clothes.

Her waist size dropped from 52 inches to 32 inches.

Speaking about her engagement and wedding rings, which she is now unable to wear since they are now too big on her Sarah said, ‘I think I deserve a new one.’

Husband Stuart, 44, who works in estate maintenance, said ‘I’m very proud, she’s totally rocking it, it couldn’t get better. She’s become very active.

‘At my work, we had a cherry picker on hire and the boss said I could take it to remove the moss off my roof.’

‘When I brought it home, Sarah was straight on it, and I put my feet up. This just shows how her confidence has increased.’  

Meanwhile her breathing is now so much better than she does not require to use her inhaler as much, and she finds herself with so much more energy – so much that her grandson wants her to come snowboarding. 

‘My asthma is a lot better depending on weather, and I don’t need to take inhalers as much.’ Sarah said. 

Sarah’s waist size dropped from 52 inches to 32 inches thanks to her diet plan and work-out regime (pictured, with an old pair of jeans) 

Speaking about her engagement and wedding rings, which she is now unable to wear since they are now too big on her Sarah said, ‘I think I deserve a new one’

Since her remarkable weight loss, Sarah confessed she has had to buy a whole new wardrobe of clothes to flatter her figure (left and right, in her old clothes) 

She can’t wait to do more travelling, which was inhibited due to her health, saying: ‘I had no confidence at all. The more weight I lost the more confidence I got.

‘I’m now lots more confident, and I can go out on my own. I don’t need anyone to come with me.

‘I am full of life now. People don’t even recognise me when I walk by them in the street. ‘It’s knocked years [on] my life.’

The grandmother-of-five is enjoying spending more time with her grandchildren and her grandson is now asking her to go snowboarding

Cutting down on takeaways and snacks during lockdown has meant Sarah has been able to shed ten stone (pictured left and right) 

As well as starting gardening and decorating, Sarah can’t wait to start swimming, and her grandchildren are loving her new lease on life.  

‘My eldest grandson, who’s five, is wanting me to go snowboarding. ‘I’m still wanting to lose a little bit more weight.

‘We’d like to go traveling around Scotland, as we have never been able to travel due to being in too much pain.’

She added: ‘It’s never too late to change. It changed my life and can change everyone’s.’

Sarah’s diet BEFORE 

Breakfast: Coffee with sugar, poached egg on toast dripping with butter

Snack: Crisps, biscuits, chocolate, energy drinks

Lunch: Cheese toasty and crisps,

Dinner: Takeaways, kebabs, pizza, lasagne

Sarah’s diet AFTER

Breakfast: Cappuccino shake

Lunch: Thai green style curry noodles

Snack: Snack bar, salted caramel bites. 2.5 litres of water per day.

Dinner: 80g of various vegetables carefully weighed out, protein sources such as chicken, tuna, or prawns.

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