I ballooned to 20st adding health food to dinners, I realised I was a blob when I met my new man – how I halved in size

A SIZE 22 binge-eating mum dropped 10st after her breakup – realising she didn’t want to be a ‘blob’ next to her action man new fella. Claire Kelly says that during her previous relationship of two years her weight hit more than 20st as she’d continue eating even when she felt ‘disgustingly sick’. Claire Kelly lost 10st after an “epiphany” made her want to change Credit: Kennedy News Claire’s weight had crept up to 20st from binge-eating meals for four people Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media She admits she would often cover her dinners in olive oil, widely considered to be a superfood but vast quantities and portions big enough to four saw her pile on the pounds. However after breaking up with her ex in May 2020, the 31-year-old claims she had an ‘epiphany’ and realised she could change her life. Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! And after romance blossomed with army man James in August that year, who she met through work, she claims her new partner inspired her to get leaner as he was ‘very fit and healthy’. First the ambulance worker lost 1.5st simply through walking, before dropping 5st in two months after joining the gym. Claire says James being “fit and healthy'” inspired her to lose weight Credit: Kennedy News Clare also had liposuction and a breast reduction, going from a G cup to a C cup Credit: Kennedy News In addition to diet and exercise, Claire had a liposuction on her stomach and legs and a breast reduction surgery in 2023. After getting engaged in February 2025, Claire managed to shed the remaining 3st to hit her ideal weight. Now, 5ft 7in Claire has lost a whopping 10st and can fit in a size eight, while weighing 10st 7lbs. She credits the breakup for her ‘epiphany’ and ‘massively helping’ her finally begin losing weight. Most read in Fabulous Claire, from Liverpool, said: “I had a very sudden breakup and had a bit of an epiphany. It was a lot. “I isolated myself during covid because I worked for the ambulance service. This whole cloud came off me and I realised I was held back this entire time. “I saw a lot of things in the ambulance service and it made me understand that you only have one life, so why am I living my life so miserably? “I separated from that person. The breakup massively helped. “I met James and he is in the army, very fit and healthy. I thought, I’m a blob. We went on walks and when lockdown finished, I started going to the gym. “I started taking notice of my diet. I got a full-time coach. She was educating me on the importance of having protein. “I had a really structured plan. I was training five to six times a week. After about two months the weight just dropped off. I had hit a five stone mark before I knew it. “I booked a liposuction on my stomach and my legs. I had a breast reduction because I’ve always had extremely large boobs so I went from a G cup down to a C cup. Claire says the weight dropped off once she started training five to six times a week Credit: Kennedy News Claire didn’t use GLP-1s and says losing weight naturally taught her a lot Credit: Kennedy News “I was uncomfortably big, I was in the obese category, if not morbidly obese. About three years ago I hit a goal weight of losing seven stone.” The mum said she had put on the pounds by binge-eating, scoffing down ‘whatever’ and eating ready-meals meant to serve four people. Now, Claire said her mental health has improved since her weight loss journey. Claire: “I did a lot of binge-eating. I didn’t know any better, it escalated when I felt I wasn’t good enough, like a coping mechanism. “I would eat whatever I could find. You just don’t stop even if you feel disgustingly sick. It’s a very vicious cycle. The volume of food I was eating was horrendous. “I would have a pre-made meal that could serve four people in one sitting and then have a tub of ice cream and a pack of cookies. “The binges could go on for days. I love chocolate, jelly sweets and cake.” Claire admitted she is shocked when she looks at old photos of herself and that she wants to ‘show off’ the work she has put in her transformation. Claire’s food diary before weight loss: Breakfast: Big bowl of cereal, 2-3 slices of toast or pastries. Starbucks Frappuccino. Lunch: Meal deals, fried chicken or pasta. Snacks: Crisps, chocolate bars and a sugary drink. Dinner: Home-cooked meal with lots of olive oil, pasta or takeaway. Claire’s food diary after weight loss: Breakfast: Yoghurt bowl with fruit, chia seeds, agave syrup. Coffee and almond milk. Lunch: Chicken sausages, salad, eggs or tuna pasta salad. Dinner: Chicken or turkey, tofu, beans, lentils, pasta. Snack: Chocolate and sweets in moderation. Claire said: “We got engaged and it really motivated me to become the best version of myself. “I lost three stone between February and August 2025. It was extremely hard and it’s been a really long process. “My mental health went from rock bottom to another level. I started finding myself. You can’t expect someone to love you if you don’t love yourself. “I have a little girl and I want to teach her that she needs to value herself before anyone else. “GLP-1s weren’t available to us when I started and I had to do it naturally. “I am very glad I did it naturally because it taught me more about my relationship with food. “I couldn’t remember what I looked like before. It was eye-opening to see photos before my journey. “It’s taught me a lot about being consistent and learning about your body. I wanted to get lean and show off the work I’ve been doing for the last few years.” Comment now