I lost 3st in 10 weeks for my wedding – I’ve kept the weight off for a DECADE but still get to eat pizza and chocolate

STARING at her reflection in the mirror, seeing a radiant bride in a size 8 gown, it was a surreal moment for Gemma Renwick.

The then 29-year-old felt so happy and almost in disbelief this was real.

Finally, after years of battling with her weight, the mum-of-two had the body she’d always dreamed of and in time for one of the most important days of my life.

That was 12 years ago and today Gemma has maintained her weight loss and now helps others to slim down as an online slimming and life style coach.

Here Gemma, now 41, who lives in Hampshire with her husband Jim, 45, and their children Finley, 13 and Bethany, 9, reveals how she got her dream body and kept it…

I’d been dreading the attention my wedding day would bring.

The thought of feeling self-conscious and uncomfortable in a size 16 gown, while everyone stared at me, filled me with worry.

However, looking at my slim waist, cheekbones and slender arms after losing 3.5 stone, I knew I was going to walk up the aisle with my head held high, feeling absolutely fantastic.

Some people never have to give their weight a second thought, but I’ve never been one of them.

Since I was a teenager, thinking about it, trying to lose it and gaining it again, has been a constant cycle in my life.

In my teens, I was the biggest of my friends, a result of eating too big portions of home-cooked meals and frequent trips to the school tuck shop for chocolate and crisps.

I experienced some bullying about my body and it was then the seed was planted in my mind that I wasn’t good enough as I was, and I needed to change myself.

I went through a phase of skipping meals and restricting what I ate, and it did work, by my late teens I was slim. I felt like I was ‘better’ that way, the same as other girls, with boys suddenly interested in me.

Then, I went to college and regained weight, going out for drinks and eating convenience food and takeaways.

And so the cycle of yo-yo dieting, and my weight fluctuating, began.

You name the diet or slimming club and I tried it.

From Weightwatchers to the keto plan, I gave them all a whirl, but I see now, my mindset was all wrong.

My sole focus was on losing weight, quickly, with no thought about the long-term and changing my day to day life and relationship with food.

Repeatedly, I’d start a new plan, stick to it religiously, lose weight fast, then slip back into old habits. I was either losing or gaining weight, there was no middle ground.

I was an emotional eater, I’d eat my feelings so whether I had a great or bad day, I’d turn to food to celebrate or cheer myself up, like slices of buttered toast and large bags of crisps.

In 2007, when I was 24, I met my now husband Jim through work.

He was slim and sporty and although he didn’t care what weight I was – he loved me for me, not my dress size – I always felt big next to him.

I would drive to the petrol station and stuff a family sized chocolate bar into my mouth in secret, because I felt embarrassed about eating junk in front of him when I was already overweight.

In January 2012, our son Finley was born and after having him, I weighed 13 stone and was a size 16, which at 5’5, classed me as obese.

Jim and I were planning to get married in the summer of 2013 and I just couldn’t bear the thought of being an overweight bride.

Not only the scrutiny on the day, but knowing that the photos were forever and I would hate them.

I knew I was never going to feel more motivated to tackle my weight and lifestyle once and for all and end the yo-yo cycle which was making me so unhappy.

A friend had done the 1:1 diet (then known as The Cambridge Diet) and what she told me about it appealed to me.

I would have several meal replacement products a day, like shakes, soups and porridge, plus one healthy ‘proper’ meal of protein and veg, and live on 800 calories per day.

There was no alcohol and I needed to drink at least three litres of water daily.

Then, once I’d hit my goal of ten stone, I’d wean off it onto a healthy diet to maintain my loss, all with support from a diet consultant and weekly weigh-ins.

With Finley to look after, I liked the idea of the majority of my meals being pre-prepared, so I didn’t have to worry about shopping for ingredients, cooking and tracking calories.

It would be done for me and give me a chance to reflect on my relationship with food and change it going forward.

On 1st January 2013, with Jim’s support, I started the plan.

Of course, I felt some trepidation, would this one work when so many others had failed? But I was also determined, this time was going to be different.

The first week or two were challenging, but I was surprised at how quickly my body adjusted to less calories, and how full the products made me feel.

Friends and family who hadn’t seen me for a few months couldn’t believe their eyes

Gemma Renwick

Even when I had a craving for something sweet, I could satisfy it with a low calorie chocolate bar from the range, and that did the trick.

Nutritionally, I was getting everything I needed so I had plenty of energy and felt really well.

I lost 6lb in the first week, I couldn’t believe it when I stepped on the scales. By a fortnight in, I was 11lb down.

By March 2013, ten weeks after starting, I had lost three stone, dropped four dress sizes and hit my target of 10 stone. I was stunned, it had been so fast.

Friends and family who hadn’t seen me for a few months couldn’t believe their eyes, and my confidence soared as I swapped baggy jumpers that had hid my flabby body, for fitted dresses and skinny jeans.

Between March and August 2013, I weaned myself off the plan onto a healthy diet, gradually replacing the meal replacement products with food.

I transformed my daily diet from one of shop bought sandwiches, crisps and huge portions of cheesy pasta, to one of chicken, vegetables, fruit and grains.

I had so much energy, was sleeping better and started walking and lifting weights to tone up and get fit.

In 2012, I’d chosen my wedding dress but, a size 16 at the time, I didn’t order it as I was determined I wouldn’t be wearing that size on the big day.

A few months before the wedding, I returned to the shop and ordered it in a size 10, which then had to be taken in to fit my size 8 body.

The lady who owned the boutique was amazed at how much I’d changed in such a short period of time.

She put before and after photos of me in the changing room to inspire other brides who also wanted to slim down.

I weighed 9st 7lbs on my wedding day. I felt so happy and confident as Jim and I exchanged vows, with Finley there too, beaming with joy in all the photos.

In August 2015, our daughter Bethany was born but by then my new lifestyle was so embedded, I only gained a stone and lost it very quickly.

It was a completely different experience to when I’d had Finley and fully taken advantage of ‘eating for two’. This time, I stuck to eating healthily and mindfully.

It’s been twelve years since I lost weight and I’m proud to say I’ve maintained my loss myself and now work as a coach supporting other people who want to overhaul their lifestyle.

There are no more McDonalds egg and sausage muffins for breakfast, mayo heavy sandwiches with crisps for lunch, and a huge roast dinner in the evening.

Now, I have a protein shake in the morning, a tuna salad wrap for lunch and chicken with vegetables for dinner.

I snack on fruit and greek yogurt, instead of big bars of chocolate. And I never eat in secret anymore, or to feed my emotions.

At the weekends, I am more relaxed about what I eat. I love to go out for a meal with friends and have a couple of drinks, or order a pizza for a family movie night, but I apply an 80/20 rule – being disciplined most of the time, so I don’t feel guilty about rewarding myself with some treats.

With two children to be a role model for, I don’t discuss weight with them. Instead, as a family, we focus on being healthy, active and nourishing our bodies, and they see me live that mantra every day.

Losing weight transformed my body, and my mentality, and in doing so I gave myself a future filled with health, happiness and confidence.

Follow Gemma on Instagram @_gemmarenwick