A British mother has managed to save over 400 pounds sterling (approx. US$550) a month thanks to ditching takeaways in an effort to lose weight.
Amy Yates, 27, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was in disbelief seeing her holiday pictures from a trip to Turkey 18 months ago.
She had put on the extra pounds after giving birth to her daughter in 2016. At her heaviest, she weighed 210 pounds (95 kg) and could only fit in XL size-16 clothes.
Yates managed to drop five dress sizes and 70 pounds (31 kg) after joining Slimming World and cutting out takeaways, which she admitted she would have five times a week, costing over US$550 a month.
She now weighs a healthy 140 pounds (64 kg) and fits into size-6 clothing.
Having lost weight, Yates said she now makes sure to keep track of what she’s eating.
“We are saving so much money and have been able to live much more comfortably as a result,” she added. “We’re able to go on weekends away and take our daughter on more days out.”
Recalling her eating habits before losing weight, she said: “I ordered a takeaway five days a week. We would get pizza, Chinese, Indian, and whatever else we fancied.
“I would spend 100 pounds sterling (approx. US$140) a week on takeaways.
“When we went to Turkey in 2019, it gave me the push I needed to start losing the weight because I didn’t recognize myself in the pictures and I knew I had to make a change.
Yates said that it was difficult for her to sign up for the weight-loss organization because she had developed post-natal depression after giving birth to her daughter.
“I was a bit of a hermit but it’s the best thing I ever did,” she said. "I went from eating takeaways, packet sandwiches, microwave meals to cooking my own food and making my own ‘fakeaways’ at home.
“Now, if I want an Indian I‘ll make a homemade chicken korma or if I want a pizza, I’ll make pizza wraps which have half the calories.
“There are so many ways to cut down on calories and fat; you just have to swap things out.”
She added: “I managed to stick to the diet because I was desperate to make a change. I didn’t want to look or feel like that anymore. I was so focused and it was the [holiday] pictures that pushed me to make that change.”
After cutting out the takeaways for homemade meals, Yates saw an improvement in her mental and physical state. She said it took her 10 months to lose 70 pounds.
“I felt fantastic and once I had reached my target weight, I didn’t know what to do with myself!” she said.
“I don’t do any exercise I just walk my daughter to school and back.”
She added: “At the moment, I’m at my happy weight and I can still go out and have a few drinks and have fun but I'll normally try and opt for the healthier option when eating out.”
Amy started an Instagram account to track her progress and has managed to rake in an impressive 20,000 followers.
She said: “I started the Instagram account when I first started losing weight. I started it as a visual food diary. It was just intended for myself but people like it.
“I get messages every day saying I’m relatable and I just want to help and inspire other women on a similar journey.”
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