A Milton Keynes woman who cared for her mum before passing, has lost over 8st in attempts to leading a healthier life after struggling with food when she lost her mum to cancer.
Laura Finlow’s world came crashing down when she lost her mother to lung cancer. The 42-year-old was a full-time carer for her mother, meaning she received carer’s allowance, which she used to look after herself and children, but when her mother sadly passed, Laura’s allowance stopped coming in, leaving her fearful that she would lose her family home and forced to find a new job all whilst battling grief.
Attempting to raise her children, in addition to juggling her bereavement with her new job, Laura found herself feeling extremely low and turned to food as a source of comfort.
Before her mother passed, Laura promised her she would quit smoking, however, the cigarettes were quickly replaced with food and her weight gain began to spiral. Laura reached 19st5lb, the heaviest she had ever been and had a wakeup call and decided it was time to make a change for the sake of her children, after she started suffering with high blood pressure and heart issues.
In just eight months, Laura had lost 8st following a diet by Cambridge Weight Plan and the support from her diet consultant Fran. Laura said, “With The 1:1 Diet I definitely had some really great days and weigh-ins, but there were some days I really struggled, and things were incredibly hard, especially when I thought of my mum, but Fran was always there when I needed her.”
Laura took a break from the diet due to gallbladder issues but fell pregnant shortly after thanks to her weight loss. Shortly after the birth of her baby girl, she fell pregnant again five months later – but went through a difficult pregnancy and had to have a C-section alone. Feeling scared after the birth, Laura began comfort eating again and soon got back in contact with Fran.
Not long after, Laura fell pregnant again but unfortunately lost that baby and endured a difficult experience in hospital as she caught Covid. Unable to see her family and loved ones over Christmas, she once again turned to food for comfort. Laura then fell pregnant again shortly after, but was considered extremely high risk due to her weight and suffered a difficult pregnancy – leading her to be told she’d need to lose weight as soon as possible.
Juggling a newborn with two children, Laura endured sleepless nights and felt uncomfortable in her own body – leading her to shut herself off from friends and family.
She began having weekly gallbladder attacks and was put on a surgery waiting list, while a liver scan revealed she had a fatty liver and was told she needed to lose weight to reverse it.
At her wit’s end Laura decided to get back on her diet in order to take back control of her life.
Laura said, “I know every journey is different and I am learning so much about conventional food in the process. I currently have little to no pain with my gallbladder and that's all thanks to The 1:1 Diet. Even on a higher step I'm so happy to see such amazing results.”
“It’s[diet] given me a love for life again and a more positive outlook to take each day as it comes.” Laura continued, “It’s given me back my life and my confidence. I have now lost enough weight that I’m able to climb the 02 and look out over London, which I've always dreamed of.”
Before starting a lifestyle that changed her life in the best way possible, Laura weighed 19st 0lbs ¾. She now weighs 10st 9lbs ¾, losing over 8st.
Laura concluded, “I've now lost the equivalent weight of all three of my children combined. I picked them all up the other day and truly struggled to hold them. How I ever carried that amount of weight is beyond incredible.".
