Janine Hurst, a mother from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has lost over 14 stone after reaching a personal low point that prompted a dramatic lifestyle change. At her heaviest, Janine weighed 25 stone and wore size 30 clothing, describing herself as the “fattest mum” at her children’s school. Her diet, dominated by high-calorie convenience foods such as pork pies, sausage rolls, and frequent takeaways, contributed to her weight gain over several years.

The turning point came in 2023 when Janine dislocated her shoulder while lifting her daughter. The injury forced her to seek medical advice, where she was informed that her weight was putting significant strain on her body. Confronted with the possibility of serious health consequences and the thought of not being there for her three children—Connie-Jae, six; Dolly-Mae, four; and two-year-old Grayson—Janine decided to make a sustainable change.

Prior to this, Janine and her husband Jamie, a McDonald’s shift manager, had a habitual reliance on takeaways, spending over £6,200 a year on fast food—almost four times the average adult expenditure. Despite providing healthy meals for their children, Janine’s own eating habits were shaped by stress and limited time, often skipping breakfast and consuming multiple bags of crisps and up to nine sugar-free energy drinks daily.

Janine had experienced ups and downs with her weight in the past, having lost five stone previously through Slimming World, only to regain the weight during and between pregnancies. The additional pressures of managing her daughter Connie-Jae’s autism diagnosis and her son Grayson’s ongoing assessment led to emotional eating, further complicating her weight management efforts.

Rejecting expensive weight loss medications, Janine returned to Slimming World, a program emphasizing “Food Optimising” rather than calorie counting. The plan encourages unlimited consumption of certain low-calorie “Free Foods” like vegetables, lean proteins, and starches, alongside controlled portions of higher-calorie items called “Syns.” The group support meetings also helped reinforce healthy changes without requiring intense exercise, though Janine now incorporates regular walking into her routine.

Today, Janine weighs 10 stone 6 pounds and has dropped ten dress sizes to a size 12. She follows a structured but satisfying meal plan, including a traditional English breakfast prepared with low-calorie spray oil, salmon salad for lunch, and roast dinners with vegetables in the evening. She still enjoys occasional snacks and sugar-free energy drinks in moderation.

The transformation has brought significant benefits beyond weight loss. Janine reports improved confidence, a more active lifestyle with her children, and enhanced family mealtime routines. Her husband is supportive, and the couple have reduced their dependence on takeaways, saving money in the process.

Janine emphasizes patience and persistence, noting that her weight loss journey took 28 months. She continues to attend Slimming World meetings and credits the program with teaching her a sustainable, healthier approach to food. “By finally choosing myself, I’ve become the mum I always wanted to be,” she says.