Michelle was on holiday with her family in Lanzarote when an accident left her mortified, and knowing she needed to change
A mum who would spend £600 a month on fast food says a humiliating holiday moment prompted her to lose eight stone. Michelle Siderfin was a self-proclaimed “takeaway addict” who spent more on junk food than on mortgage payments for her house. The 46-year-old, from Manchester, never went a day without using delivery apps, despite doctors warning her she was morbidly obese.
Tipping the scales at 16st 6lbs, the Co-op worker endured many embarrassing moments, including when a customer asked if she was pregnant. But it was a moment of pure humiliation while on holiday with her family in Lanzarote that changed everything. “We were sitting around the pool and I sat on a plastic chair,” said Michelle, who works as a deputy manager at the supermarket.
“The back leg snapped, and the chair fell backwards. I bashed the back of my head. I was so embarrassed; I didn’t want anyone to have seen it. I was mortified – it was devastating. After that, [I felt] like – ‘How many more signs do there have to be for me to do something? I can’t have this happen again.
“The chair was the snapping point. I didn’t want my kids to be embarrassed by me. I wasn’t happy inside.”
The horrifying moment, combined with a type 2 Diabetes diagnosis, forced Michelle to face the harsh truth about her health and lifestyle. She said: “I was always on JustEat. We would order naan bread and I’d share half a naan, then have half a portion of chips, rice, and curry to myself and eat all of it.
“I’d go to McDonald’s when they did the Big Breakfasts and I might grab something from the chippy or bakery. I was spending £30 a day – around £600 a month. It was more than my mortgage, which was £270.
“I would make excuses for myself and say I didn’t have time to cook, and dieting was expensive.”
Michelle can still recall a particularly painful experience linked to her weight. She was working as a team leader at a Co-op branch in Lymm, when a customer came up to her during the Christmas rush and asked where the pigs in blankets were.
Michelle said: “She then said, ‘Can I ask you another question?’ and I thought she wanted something else. She said, ‘When’s your baby due?’ I said, ‘20 years ago,’ really blunt. I wanted to cry, and I was really angry at the same time.”
Fitting into size 20 clothes, Michelle was warned by her GP that she was at risk of having a heart attack, losing her sight and even dying. She said, “I didn’t want to die early. I don’t have grandchildren, and I wanted to be around for that time. But being told that by the doctor made me just want to comfort eat.
“I knew my weight had spiralled out of control. It’s hard. You just don’t know what to do. I was told I was morbidly obese, and that didn’t stop me.”
Michelle tried various weight loss programmes, but nothing seemed to help. That was until she joined Slimming World six years ago, eventually going on to shed more than eight stone. Michelle says the programme finally helped her lose weight because she didn’t have to give up her favourite foods.
She was also still able to socialise and enjoy meals with her family and friends. Although she hasn’t hit her target weight loss of nine stone, Michelle now weighs 8st 5lb and fits into a dress size 8 – and feels like a completely different person.
She said: “It’s about sort of changing your mindset. I just didn’t have confidence. I wouldn’t interact with people – now, I don’t mind getting up and doing group speaking and sharing my experiences.
“I don’t have a lot of pictures of myself from before the weight loss. I hated my body and had a real negative view of myself. Now, I honestly feel absolutely amazing.”
In an effort to help others, Michelle has since opted to become a Slimming World consultant last year – someone who leads and supports local Slimming World groups to help people lose weight in a healthy way. “Before, I didn’t really smile a lot, whereas now people tell me I’m always smiling,” she added.
“I get loads of compliments at work and people tell me I’ve done so well. It’s about doing what’s right for you and not somebody else. This journey has turned my life around. If I can help people the way I do – physically and mentally – I’ll be happy.”