Basingstoke bride sheds 9st for wedding day

Kat Burrows, 31, said she was stuck in a cycle of emotional eating but decided enough was enough after she reached her 30th birthday.

The infrastructure analyst weighed 19st 13lb at her heaviest and wore UK size 24 but managed to drop down to 10st 13lb and a dress size 8 ahead of her big day. 

"I'd been overweight from an early age. I even remember sneaking food out of the kitchen cupboard when I was younger," she said. 

Before embarking on her weightloss journey, Kat said her overeating was affecting her health and caused her to feel constantly tired. 

Before: Kat was a UK dress size 24

"I would fall asleep at my desk in the middle of the day, but since losing weight I have so much more energy that the effects have changed dramatically," she said.

Using food to help with life's problems Kat said came from her early childhood. 

She explained: "This mentality followed me into my adult life, and I used food as a crutch for many of life's obstacles. For far too long I stayed in a horrible relationship with someone who didn't support me and my weight loss efforts, so I became stuck in a cycle of emotional eating."

But Kat said her life began to turn around after meeting her now-husband Harvey in 2016. 

"Having someone support you unconditionally is amazing,' she said. 'If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be the healthy and happy woman I am today."

Kat signed up to a weightloss group called LighterLife in a bid to overhaul her lifestyle. 

Smiling bride

In love She said: "What I found amazing about LighterLife is the group support. My counsellor, Claire, is always motivating and I've really enjoyed the weekly cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) activities she takes us through."

Harvey and Kat tied the knot earlier this month. The newlyed described it as 'the most amazing day'.

"Harvey did nothing but love and support me though my weight-loss journey,' Kat said. 'He made me believe I was worth something and that I could do it. We can't wait to see what the future holds."

Kat lost weight for the wedding - but now has her sights firmly set on how her new lifestyle will benefit her - and Harvey - in the future.

She added: "In the future, we'd love to start a family and because I've lost weight I'll be able to be that active parent who enjoys life to the fullest. When I look to the future, I don't worry about my weight or my health because I now have the tools to maintain my size eight figure."

Kat's diet before:

Breakfast – porridge with lots of sugar, jam or honey

Lunch – shop bought sandwich

Dinner – takeaways or unhealthy meals with chips

Snacks – Crisps sweets and chocolate

Kat's diet now: 

Breakfast – Porridge with coconut milk or LighterLife shake

Lunch – Chicken salad with no dressing

Dinner – healthy low carb meals, plenty of protein like chicken and beef and lots of vegetables and salad

Snacks – Apple slices or carrots