Mum-of-three looks unrecognisable after she realised her 'health comes first'

Leanne Wall, 41, from Stockbridge Village, has undergone an incredible weight loss transformation after realising she was 'neglecting' herself when setting up her own business

A mum-of-three recognised she was neglecting her own health while running a business - and ended up dropping six stone.

Leanne Wall, 41, from Stockbridge Village, was running The Weight Loss Prep Kitchen at the time, sparked by an idea in a fitness class almost a decade ago. She said: "I joined a slimming group. Everyone said it was hard to make healthy meals, and they were talking about how much they cost and how much food you end up wasting. I was like, I could make you meals if you want."

Her first try at meal prepping blossomed into a successful service with a dedicated following, including local celebrities, from actors to athletes. Leanne added: "With my business, it's £6.50 for a meal. It can work out more than that sometimes if you're having to buy all the ingredients yourself."

Leanne says she believes in serving up home-comforts over boring diet staples. She said: "Everyone loves salt and pepper food. We keep it homemade with pies, Scouse and soups rather than doing bland salads. I think it's part of the reason why people stay.

"We change the menu every week which keeps it fresh. A lot of our clients have gone on to become friends. Sometimes it's not just about weight loss - it's so easy to grab fast food rather than making healthy food", she told Liverpool Echo.

Despite fostering a thriving business, it took a personal health revelation two years ago for Leanne, mother to Sienna, Arina, and Lennon, to notice that stress had contributed to her own weight gain, sparking her transformation. She reflected on the demanding nature of her business, adding: "I used to open from morning through to the night and at weekends."

Leanne, a mum-of-three who once put her health on the back burner, shared her transformative journey with her followers. She confessed: "I was sacrificing being a parent. My health came last. That was only two years ago when I was turning 40. I knew I had to put myself on a plan."

In an inspiring post to her loyal customers on Instagram, Leanne revealed: "Over the years I've watched my clients shrink before my eyes whilst totally neglecting myself. I spent that much time thinking about food, prepping, cooking for work then juggling being a mum of three, I was picking at junk, takeaways and eating at all the wrong times. My worst downfall is eating on the move, unconsciously, consuming way too many calories per day."

Back in November 2022, tipping the scales at 16 stone, Leanne took control of her life by joining a fitness group called Conscious Living and embarking on a self-devised healthy eating plan. Today, she weighs 10 stone. Leanne now stresses the importance of patience in weight loss, as she admitted: "The changes don't come quick. I wanted to lose weight fast but it took two years."

"You've got to be focussed. There are always people you can get advice from to help as well. I understand it's expensive to keep eating healthy but you've got to keep going."

Leanne also highlights her commitment to the community through her business, The Weight Loss Prep Kitchen, where she ensures kids eat free, adding: "It's important that I give back. When they finish school, I know it can be hard to keep them fed."

"Every year at Christmas I always try to give back. Last year I did a Christmas market and bought Christmas presents for 30 families. The year before that I did a Christmas bingo and bought a Christmas dinner for 50 families. We're doing a Christmas market again this year and we're donating it to the local food bank."

The mum credits her weight loss journey as a key factor in the success of The Weight Loss Prep Kitchen, which now boasts a new permanent spot on East Prescot Road in Knotty Ash, Liverpool. In an impressive repeat victory, the venture scooped up the title of best healthy eating company in the UK at the illustrious British Fitness Awards for the second consecutive year.

She explained: "What I like about my own weight loss is that I can really relate to customers who are trying to do the same thing. It's hard to juggle running your own business and being a mum but it's also good to show people that it's possible, and that you can achieve your dreams if you carry on believing in yourself."

"I didn't think I would ever get to my own shop. Doctors, nurses, people in all professions come here. People ask me about opening more shops or delivering to other areas, but I think I'd lose that personal touch."