'You won't see your twins grow up': Serial snacker who ballooned to 24st shed half her bodyweight after doctor's stark warning
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When doting mum-of-four Annette Garner popped to see her GP she had no idea she was about to face a shocking ultimatum.
As after telling him she was suffering palpitations and shortness of breath she was asked to get on the scales.
When they crept up to 24stone the self-confessed snack addict admits she thought she was going to have a heart attack on the spot.
She had no idea her chocolate addiction had led her to pile on so much weight.
(Image: Annette Garner)
(Image: Annette Garner)
And the 39-year-old from County Durham was left even more shocked when the doctor told her, "If you don't do something, you won't see your twins grow up”.
It was the question that kicked the bookie clark into action and within 18 months she'd lost a whopping 12-and-a-half stones – taking her from a size 34 to a svelte size 10.
She said: "I hadn't weighed myself for years and could not believe it when the scales hit 24 stone. I was so ashamed I didn't even tell my fiancee what my start weight was until I'd lost all the weight.”
Annette, mum to Emma, 20, Liam, 14 as well as seven-year-old twins Sophie and Zach, admits she had always struggled with her weight and even needed specially made clothes for school when she outgrew the standard-issue uniform.
(Image: Annette Garner)
With every birthday she gained an extra stone, weighing 11 stone aged 11, then 12 stone aged 12.
By the time she was 16 the constant gibes from classmates left her finding solace in her sweet tooth and then after having her daughter at 19, Annette's eating was “out of control”.
She said: “I never ate breakfast, or even meals. I just picked at chocolate. I'd get through a whole packet of chocolate biscuits a day but I never felt full so told myself I'd hardly had anything as there'd been no proper meals.
“I got used to dressing in tents to cover the rolls of fat and being the mum at the park always sat on the bench.
“Even when I discovered my son Liam was being bullied for his “fatty” mum I'm ashamed to say I still didn't diet.
(Image: Annette Garner)
(Image: Annette Garner)
“At the fairground I'd avoid the rides after being caught in the turn-style for Blackpool's big Dipper, and I got used to the nasty looks when I was brought the belt extension on planes.”
Annette split with Emma and Liam's dad after nine years before meeting joiner Craig Priestley, 39, and father to Sophie and Zach.
“Craig agreed I should go to the doctor when I started getting terrible palpitations and couldn't get upstairs without being hopelessly out of breath.
“I'd was already prediabetic and my blood pressure was through the roof.
“I felt sick when the GP told me to get on the scales. I didn't have scales or mirrors in the house.
“When they crept up to 24 stone I thought I was having a heart attack. I was horrified. Mortified. I could not believe I was actually that heavy.
“I was a bit teary but the doctor was very kind but blunt all the same. 'If you want to see your twins grow up you have to lose weight. Do you want them growing up without a mum?”
"It was the wake up call I needed. I left and signed up to Slimming World straight away.
(Image: Annette Garner)
(Image: Annette Garner)
“As soon as I started eating proper meals I was too full to snack - and more importantly the kids were so proud they'd use their Show and Tell sessions at school to report my weight loss!
"In a year I'd lost 12-and-a-half stone. Now they love their new mum who takes them on weekend bike rides.
"I went back to the GP after hitting my Slimming World target last week and was given a clean bill of health.
"I burst into tears and couldn't thank him enough for what he said to me. He saved my life and will always be grateful - and more importantly, so will the kids."