Tracy Lindsay ballooned to a dress size 24 after switching to a desk job but has since shed more half her body weight.
Tracy Lindsay, from Fife, lost half her body weight
A woman who was left horrified by photos of herself at more than 17 stone meeting her idol shed half her weight… before meeting him again. Tracy Lindsay ballooned to a dress size 24 after she switched from an active job as a prison officer to a desk job at a care company.
The weight put strain on her spine and knees, leaving her walking on crutches and facing a double knee replacement, which has required her to reduce her body mass index to below 40. Tracy, 51, hid herself away at weekends gorging on unhealthy snacks and sweet treats.
But when she saw snaps of herself with ex-Spandau Ballet star Tony Hadley at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, she decided to join Slimming World in September 2023, which focuses on healthy eating and group support.
Tracy has now shed 8st 7lbs and told how she met the Gold and To Cut A Long Story Short star again – as a size 12 and then again as a size six.
Tracy, from Fife, said: “I was obsessed with food, it ruled my life. I have problems with my knees and back which got worse and worse until I was locking myself away at the weekends just eating as I couldn’t cope with my health conditions.
“I’d buy bags of chicken strips, microwave burgers and for breakfast, I’d have fry ups and four croissants.
Tracy ballooned to a dress size 24
“But it was when I saw a photo of myself at a size 24 meeting my pop idol Tony Hadley in 2022 that I looked at myself and thought, ‘Oh my God’. It was supposed to be the best moment of my life but it wasn’t.
“So when my friend asked if I wanted to go meet Tony again for my 50th birthday I thought ‘I will, but I don’t want to feel like that again’. So I joined Slimming World and it changed my life.
“My weight had affected my confidence so much that the first time I walked into the hall for the class I couldn’t even look up but the group support is second to none and it becomes like a little family.
Tracy with singer Tony Hadley before her weight lossTracy has now lost 8st 7lbs and for the first time feels like she has a healthy relationship with food.
“I went back to meet Tony in March 2024 when I I reached a size 12 and then again in November last year, by which point I could wear a size eight or six. When I look in the mirror, I don’t recognise myself.”
She added: “I’m still waiting on two knee replacements but being thinner makes it a lot easier to cope with and makes me eligible for surgery. I’d encourage anyone to go for it.”
To find out how Slimming World can help you manage your weight see slimmingworld.co.uk.
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