Horrified mum loses 9 stone after six-year-old daughter snaps sneaky photograph

12 September 2023 , 09:49

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Nikki didn't even recognise herself in the photo and was shocked when she realised it was her (Image: Courtesy of Nikki Forbes / SWNS)

Nikki Forbes was scrolling through her phone one morning when she spotted a picture of herself that she hadn't seen before. The image had been sneakily taken by her six-year-old daughter, Holly.

It was a photograph of Nikki sitting on the sofa while drinking a cup of coffee, with her blonde hair curled and a pair of jeans and a navy jumper on - but it was enough to change her entire outlook on life.

The mum-of-four, of Newmains, Lanarkshire, didn't recognise herself at all in the image and knew in that moment that she had to go on a monumental weight loss journey to feel happier and healthier in her body.

The photograph that triggered Nikki's monumental nine-stone weight loss journey (Courtesy of Nikki Forbes / SWNS)

She now feels like a completely different woman and enjoys running around with her kids (Courtesy of Nikki Forbes / SWNS)

"I'd been looking through my pictures, and I realised that there was a picture in my photos of me sitting drinking a cup of coffee," Nikki, now 35, said. "It was one of those moments where it hit me – I thought, 'is that really me? Am I really that size?' I asked the kids who'd taken the picture and my wee girl said it was her.

"I asked my husband if that was how I really looked – he said that I looked a bit different because I was sitting down, but yes. That was it. I quickly realised after seeing that picture that I needed to do something about it, otherwise I wouldn't be around long enough for my children."

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Nikki, who was a UK size 26, began by calorie counting and checking the nutritional information in everything she ate, trying to make smaller and healthier changes. Despite not having a strict exercise regime, she was able to make progress by doing her daily errands alongside a calorie deficit.

A fan of takeaways and crisps, she was able to keep her favourite treats in her diet by limiting them and making sure that she didn't consume over her daily calorie intake. "I never cut out all the rubbish – I still have my takeaway on Sunday evening, or some chocolate or crisps, but I stay within my calorie allowance," Nikki said.

"Being that heavy, just walking or doing everyday tasks burns a lot of calories, so by taking in less, I lost weight. I lost 9st 4lbs over a period of two years. Over lockdown, I managed to maintain while a lot of people seemed to reach for food."

Nikki would eat takeaways and crisps without thinking twice about the nutritional content (Courtesy of Nikki Forbes / SWNS)

She eats a balanced and healthy lifestyle and still fits in a takeaway and treat on a Sunday (Courtesy of Nikki Forbes / SWNS)

Now comfortable with her weight, Nikki is able to spend more time being active with her children, a benefit she's incredibly proud of. "If everyone's getting a takeaway, I'll get something similar, but slightly healthier," she explained. 'Grilled chicken instead of fried, that kind of thing. I can still be involved but make little tweaks to be healthier."

The mum-of-four is incredibly proud of her achievement, but mainly for the difference it has made to her children's lives. "I can run after my kids now; I can go on a swing set. I can walk up a flight of stairs without getting out of breath," she said. "I can just do so much more. I never thought about it before, but I used to avoid doing certain things because I knew I'd be out of breath.

"It was little things, like kicking a ball around the park with my children - now, it's me who starts the running around! My daughter, the one who took the picture, wrapped her arms around my waist the other day and could put her arms right around me. That was lovely."

Feeling much healthier and happier, Nikki has key advice for anyone in a similar position. "Once you start, go for it. If you have a day where you fall of the wagon, don't waste the whole week," she advised. "One day can sometimes turn into seven - get back on that horse the next day. One day off is better than seven days off. Keep on going."

Do you have a weight loss story to share? Get in touch. Email [email protected].

Elizabeth Hunter