After a leap year proposal to her partner, Jacqui Anderson set out on a mission to lose weight - vowing not to look like a 'fat fairy' on her wedding day. The former driving instructor faced a difficult challenge when she used to constantly fill up at petrol stations for fuel - the shelves laden with snacks and chocolate treats to tempt anyone with a sweet tooth.
Jacqui, 58, who now lives in Gunthorpe, began her mission to shed the pounds after proposing to partner Richard in leap year 2020 - the same year Covid struck. Like many brides-to-be, wedding plans were forced on hold during the pandemic.
The couple decided to wait until the outbreak eased and they could start planning their big day. Jacqui, a petite 5ft 4in tall, weighed 11st 6lb, and joined Slimming World to transform her eating habits and keep up regular exercise in order to chose the wedding dress of her dreams.
Read more: She's 'Wonder Woman!' - Camper-driving pensioner's 'new lease of life' after weight loss
"I just wanted not to look fat and frumpy in my wedding dress," she told Nottinghamshire Live. "I didn't want to look like a fat fairy!" Jacqui managed to slim down to 10st 4lb - hitting her target weight before her wedding - but she admits she was literally down to the wire on getting there.
"I got into my dress fine," said Jacqui, who attends a slimming group on Monday nights in Keyworth Methodist Church in Selby Lane. "We left it quite late getting the dress. When I bought it, it was a bit tight, but it fitted perfectly on the day."
She showed off her new figure in her beautiful lace-embellished elegant vintage-style calf-length dress at their wedding on May 22 this year at Cockliffe Country House, in Burntstump Country Park, Arnold. On her weight loss, Jacqui said she feels better in herself and her confidence has soared.
She is fitter, exercises more and walks further. Before, her diet consisted more of processed meals - but now she cooks ingredients from scratch every day, and focuses on batch cooking to freeze for busier days, when a meal is there to grab and heat up.
She is now a supply teacher and gardens for people in the village. She has said goodbye to working long hours, stress, sitting in the passenger seat all the time as a driving instructor, and not getting much exercise.
"Before, when I pulled into a petrol station, it was a 'meal deal' - but now I make my lunch the night before to take with me," said a proud Jacqui. Another milestone for Jacqui was keeping the weight off for her daughter Cara's wedding, 10 weeks after her wedding to Richard.
"Cara had her hen do with her friends in Croatia," said Jacqui. "I wanted to be in a swimsuit. All her friends were in their 20s, and there is mum... which kept me on track, as I wanted to remain looking good.
"My weight loss journey was around the houses - up and down, and up and down - but I got there in the end! It took me a year to lose 16lbs. If I had done it really quickly, I don't think I would have maintained it".
Michelle Tinlin, her Slimming World consultant, has been brilliant and supportive, said Jacqui. "She is at the end of the phone day and night to support you. She's on WhatsApp and sends words of encouragement. There is a Facebook group which is really active and people post recipes, help and support."
Michelle said Jacqui reached out to her when virtual groups were running during lockdown. "Like so many of us, her particular weakness was chocolate! We've had many a conversation about 'what else can I have as an alternative?'
"She was so determined to lose this weight. She had two main goals - one was for her own wedding and also, shortly afterwards, her daughter's wedding. She just did an incredible job really. Her journey wasn't a smooth one but she kept persevering, coming in every week and eventually she got there.
"She has done brilliant staying at her target weight. She comes to group each week. I always call my target members 'professionals', because at the end of the day, they have done it and share their ideas and inspiration. People can really look up to them. That's really nice that she does this and continues to give support to others.
"She looked absolutely stunning on her wedding day; smiling from ear-to-ear. It was well-deserved. It was just lovely to get another member to reach their dream weight."
READ NEXT:
Released cop killer David Parfitt threatened to 'hunt' down officer and 'make him pay'
- Face of arsonist who set ex-girlfriend's family home on fire
- Men filmed 'fishing penny wishes' out of Victoria Centre fountain
- Children were trafficked to flood streets with heroin and crack cocaine
- Tattoo artist pulled drag artist's wig in Nottingham city centre bar
