'I lost a stone in four weeks with this one change - anyone with a garden can do it'

A mum-of-one has revealed how she managed to shed more than 10 stone - and anyone with a garden can do it.

Emma McGarry had struggled with her size for years and admits she was "completely addicted to food" - gorging on on takeaways as a source of comfort.

The mum, from the Shaw area of Oldham, tipped the scales at almost 20 stone at her heaviest and was a dress size 24.

READ MORE: 'I gorged on five takeaways a WEEK - what my son did changed everything'

At the peak of her weight struggles, the 38-year-old was also dealing with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition causing pain and tenderness throughout her body. Her symptoms, worsened by her size, prevented her from playing with her young son.

The mum decided enough was enough and signed up to Slimming World in June 2016 – going on to lose a stone in just four weeks.

Through following a food plan and walking up and down her garden, Emma eventually lost more than an eye-water 10 stone - weighing in at at 9st 4Ibs while being a dress size 10.

Emma, who previously worked as an ambulance emergency call handler, told the Manchester Evening News: “I couldn’t get on the floor with my son or walk him to the park. I just wanted to be able to play with him. He was only four at the time.

“I thought 'enough is enough'. I had gone to pain management classes. I had done everything and everywhere told me the pain would be easier to manage if I lost the weight.

“I was completely addicted to food. It didn’t matter what I was doing; if I was sat there watching telly, I was munching. If I was depressed, I was turning to food. If I was happy, I was turning to food. Food was the answer to everything.”

Emma says she first started gaining weight at the age of 18. She described her previous diet as 'very carb-heavy' and could easily go through a loaf of bread every day.

“I would have a pot noodle with four slices of bread with butter on,” she added. “It would be anything – pizza, takeaway, chicken dinners.

“I was anxious, depressed. I couldn’t get about. I was ashamed and had low self-esteem – everything you could think of. I couldn’t put my socks on, I couldn’t bend down and I couldn’t get in or out of the bath. Even the stairs were a challenge.”

Emma says she was initially worried about joining the weight loss group due to her anxiety struggles but was quickly put at ease by other members.

Though she was still suffering badly from fibromyalgia, the mum managed to incorporate exercise into her weight loss regime by walking around her garden on crutches.

Her incredible weight loss means not only has Emma been able to reduce the painful symptoms of her chronic condition, she also recently became a Slimming World consultant herself. The mum re-launched her group on October 24.

"Never give up on your weight loss goals; anything is possible with a willing heart," she added. "I’m so excited to now be helping others, and I’d love for even more people who are struggling to lose weight to join. Even if they can’t make it to my group, they can find their nearest group on the Slimming World website - it truly can change your life. There’s no judgement, and the plan is tailored to suit you."