The sun was blazing, kids were joyfully playing in the pool, and I felt like I should have been savoring every moment of my vacation in Greece with my then one-year-old daughter.
As a single working mom, this summer 2019 getaway was meant to be a special treat, but I found myself unable to unwind. At 31, I noticed other vacationers looking slender and toned in their bikinis.
I had packed a bright orange, body-covering swimsuit, but at 17-and-a-half stone, I felt very self-conscious about my appearance.
Looking back at the photos now, I hardly recognize that version of myself. At 38, I’ve trimmed down to just over 10 stone, and I feel confident, healthy, and content. However, getting here was a long journey.
Growing up, my family wasn’t overweight, and I was an average weight for my height as a young child. It was during my secondary school years when puberty set in that the weight started to accumulate. Kids can be incredibly harsh—during the Harry Potter craze, they nicknamed me ‘Hagrid’.
Shortly after starting secondary school, we went on an overnight trip. I had been looking forward to it, but the relentless teasing became so unbearable that I called my mom to come pick me up that night.
Despite the bullying, I didn’t try to lose weight – I didn’t know how. There was no social media and I didn’t have the information available. My parents never criticised my size and treating myself to comfort foods was my happy place.
I did love dancing though – as a child, I did tap, modern and jazz and, after leaving school, I took a performing arts course. During the first year, I didn’t cook once. There was a Tesco Express, a Subway and a Chinese takeaway within a stone’s throw and I ate junk food constantly.
Emily Larner in Greece in 2019, weighing 17-and-a-half stone and wearing her flesh-covering bright orange swimsuit. ‘I felt deeply uncomfortable in my own skin,’ she says
Now, she looks back at the photograph above and doesn’t recognise herself. At 38, she weighs just over 10st, and feel confident, fit and happy
I was drinking, too, going out with friends three or four times a week. Not surprisingly, I put on a lot of weight. I’d see friends heading to a club wearing lovely outfits, and I felt such a frump in my size 16 jeans and stretchy tops.
As graduation loomed, I knew I wanted to work as a performer, and my size was against me. That was when I joined Weight Watchers for the first time. I attended meetings religiously, stuck to the recipes, and lost weight quickly.
To my delight, I slimmed down to a size 12, and joined a Little Mix tribute band as ‘Jade’.
Because my career was at stake, I felt I had no choice but to lose weight. I warded off hunger with fruit and low-calorie snacks, and within six months I’d dropped two dress sizes.
I was still fairly toned as I did a lot of dancing and movement as part of my course, so luckily I had no loose skin and could wear skimpy clothes.
Even as a slim size 12, one of my costumes featured sparkly blue hotpants and, during an energetic dance, they split at the back and I didn’t realise until the end! I didn’t feel too embarrassed though – I loved singing and dancing so much, that was all I thought about.
I kept the weight off until I met my daughter’s dad. We both enjoyed eating out and cooking, so it began to creep on. Then in 2018, I got pregnant and saw it as a chance to eat for two. I assumed I’d lose it all after she was born, but I was constantly busy and found myself relying on takeaways.
My partner and I broke up when she was one, and when I would get home from my job as a learning support assistant, the evenings were lonely, so I’d pick at my daughter’s leftovers then eat chocolate and big bags of crisps in front of the TV.
I’d given up my performing career as it didn’t fit with motherhood and, by March 2020, we were in lockdown.
It took Emily a while to enjoy workouts at the gym, but she eventually discovered Body Pump classes, where you use weights to music
Emily exercised regularly alongside eating sensibly to avoid developing loose skin
By April 2025, Emily had hit her goal, but decided to lose another stone, which she did just before Christmas, again through sensible eating and exercise
Emily was eating whole packs of biscuits and doing no exercise. ‘Not surprisingly, I put on a lot of weight,’ she says
With nowhere to go and no dancing to keep me fit, I gained even more weight. I was eating whole packs of biscuits, doing no exercise – I’d sit and watch the Joe Wicks workouts without moving! By the time restrictions were lifted, I was a size 18-20.
In December 2020, we moved house in Weston-Super-Mare and, clearing out my wardrobe, I tried on some of my old size 12 clothes. I couldn’t even get them over my hips and I felt desperately sad that I’d allowed myself to gain so much weight. That was when I decided to rejoin Weight Watchers.
It had worked for me before so I knew I could cope with the regime, even though friends had successfully tried other diets, like cutting out carbs. I didn’t tell anyone I was doing it as I didn’t want the pressure. I just quietly signed up online, so I didn’t need a babysitter for my daughter, now eight.
I took a slow and steady approach. There are no banned foods, and I was still having a KFC every Saturday in the early days – I just planned around treats and made smarter choices during the week. I knew I could follow the plan and that I would lose weight. I had very strong motivation – I wanted to be healthier for my daughter.
I was also conscious that I didn’t want to develop any loose skin from dramatic weight loss. I had a bit of wrinkled skin on my stomach from pregnancy and I didn’t want to worsen it.
When I was at school I would often skive PE. I hated it and I assumed the gym would be the same, full of judgment and pressure. But this time, knowing I wanted to be toned and strong as well as slim, I pushed myself to join.
It took me a while to enjoy workouts, but eventually I discovered Body Pump classes, where you use weights to music. It was actually fun, and the weights go up as you improve, so I could start easily with a gentle 2kg.
Seeing everyone of all ages and sizes going for it to great music made me feel so determined – and I could see that I was getting stronger.
By the summer of 2022, I was down to a size 14-16 and went to a friend’s birthday party in a crop top and short skirt. It was the first time in years I’d shown any skin. I got more compliments that night than I’d ever had.
I know significant weight loss often means loose, baggy skin, and I think the fact that I’ve taken it so slowly and consistently, and exercised regularly alongside eating sensibly, is what has stopped that happening.
As an ex-dancer, I knew that toning up doesn’t happen overnight and doing so at the same time as losing weight – rather than thinking, ‘I’ll get fit once I’m slim’ – is definitely the only way to avoid that ‘bagginess’.
I reached my original goal weight of 11st 7lb in April 2025. I was pleased, of course, but I still didn’t feel entirely comfortable – so I aimed to lose another stone, which I achieved just before Christmas, again through sensible eating and exercise.
I still have treats – a couple of cocktails with friends, or a Mexican takeaway, but I’ll nip temptation in the bud the next day, whereas before, I’d have given up and carried on.
My mindset has changed completely, and at long last, I’m more than happy in my skin.
Emily’s diet
THEN
Breakfast: Three slices of toast with peanut butter.
Snacks: Chocolate, multiple bags of crisps, several shop-bought sandwiches.
Dinner: Large pasta bake with extra cheese.
Later: A large Domino’s pizza with all the extras, sides and cookies.
NOW
Morning: Overnight oats or protein Weetabix with yoghurt and protein powder.
Lunch: Salad with chicken or falafel and hummus.
Dinner: Chicken in tomato sauce with potatoes and broccoli, or salmon.
Later: A protein yoghurt or a small chocolate bar occasionally.
As told to FLIC EVERETT
