Half the size DOUBLE THE ENERGY!

Carolann Hicks hated that her weight was holding her back, so she set herself a goal

- FIONA FORD

AFTER Size 10

It’s such a cliché, isn’t it? Overweight woman, who’s too big for the fairground rides. But for years, that fear is what stopped me from having fun with my two daughters, Kaitlin and Isobel.

Whenever my partner, Simon, and I took the girls to fairs or theme parks, I was always the designated coat holder as they waved to me from carousels or rollercoasters. I’d tell the girls I was scared of heights and fast rides, but the truth was, I knew I was far too big to fit into the seats, so I didn’t even bother trying. I pretended that I didn’t mind, but deep down I was ashamed that my size physically stopped me from joining them.

As a teenager, I had never been overweight, but in my late teens I discovered fast food and indulged in hamburgers and fries before going home to eat a homemade meal.

My weight slowly crept up to a size 16 when I was 20 but it didn’t matter as my new boyfriend, Simon, loved me for who I was.

It was after I had Kaitlin in 2007 and Isobel in 2010 that my battle with food and weight really began. I found the emotional impact of becoming a mum tough and I’d turn to food for comfort. After working in my job in social care, I’d frequently stop at fast food restaurants, eat two or three burgers then cook a family meal for everyone, such as spaghetti bolognese, and scoff a huge plateful.