A mum-of-two has turned her life around after breaking free from a crisp addiction to achieve her dream body.
Lisa Bernett, from Borehamwood, would snack behind her family’s back, getting through four bags of her beloved potato-based snack per day.
At her heaviest, the 43-year-old weighed over 20 stone and says she had an unhealthy relationship with food.
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Lisa would even pretend to order meals for her partner, Ashley, at fast food venues so that she could get double portions.
“Often, I would polish off four packets of pickled onion Space Raiders,” Lisa told What’s The Jam.
“I just love crisps and savoury snacks.
“Crisps made me happy as I could just keep eating them and they weren’t finished after a couple of bites.
“I enjoyed Doritos dipped in sour cream chive dip and Marks & Spencer’s beef and onion.
“My unhealthy eating habits were done in secret while everyone was out.
“Once, a friend and I went to a drive-by McDonald’s and ordered a large Big Mac meal.
“We ate it in the car, then drove round again and ordered another burger.
“‘Ashley is going to love this!’ I lied to the cashier – because, actually, it was for me.”
Lisa, who has two daughters – Gemma, 16 and Sophie, 13 – tried numerous diets but would eventually return to her snacking. fast food meals or making large roasts at home.
The turning point came when her best friend and mother-in-law tragically passed away.
At first, this exacerbated the unhealthy eating.
But when Ashley decided to lose weight, he encouraged Lisa to join him.
Lisa said: “We were all heartbroken and any thoughts of healthy eating went out of the window.
“But as time passed, Ashley told me he wanted to lose some weight.
“‘I’ll do it with you,’ I said.
“‘There’s no way you’re going to be smaller than me’.
“I downloaded MyNetDiary app where you weigh the food and work out the calories accordingly.
“Within eight months, I’d got down to 14st 5lb and Ashley was 15 stone.
“We were over the moon.
“That summer, we took the girls on a cruise around the Med and I bought three size 16 bikinis — one black, one fuchsia and one leopard print.
“It was the first time I’d worn a bikini since our honeymoon.”
Just under two years since she started her new routine of healthy eating, a calorie deficit and exercise, the mum has dropped 10 stone.
She said: “I bumped into a friend in Tesco who I hadn’t seen for a while.
“‘I can’t believe how much weight you’ve lost!’,’ she told me.
“It was a great feeling.
“This year we’re off to Disney World, and I’m buying another new bikini — this time in a size 10.
“I can’t wait to wear it and show off my new look!
“I’m not sure I have kicked the crisp addiction but I have them in moderation and include them as part of my calorie allowance.
“I still eat crisps but they’re normally the lower-calorie ones and only one packet.”
BEFORE DIET:
Breakfast: No breakfast
Lunch: Two bagels with cheese and onion with lots of butter, and a family-sized packet of crisps.
Dinner: A big bowl of spaghetti, roast dinner or takeaway
AFTER DIET:
Breakfast: Protein porridge with lots of berries
Lunch: Bagel thins with chicken, tuna or smoked salmon with hula hoop puffs
Dinner: Chicken breast, jacket potato and salad or chicken breast with mixed veg and rice
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