Proclaimers superfan Nichola Maclean lost 13 stone after being shocked by a picture she had taken with her idols. The mum-of-two has been a die-hard fan of hitmakers Craig and Charlie Reid since she was aged 10, but the 45-year-old felt she looked 'huge' in a snap with the superstars following a gig in 2018.
Nichola, who stands at 6ft 3in, said the picture left her 'mortified' after her weight ballooned to 27 stone over the years. Speaking to the Record, she said: "By that point I weighed 27 stone and wore a size 24, I didn't realise before, but looking at the photo I knew I was huge.
"Because of my height, I thought maybe I hid it well. That photo was the wake-up call I needed to make a change."
The mum, from Perthshire in Scotland, started to pile on the pounds while working 70-hour weeks in a burger van. She says she was eating from the van on the go and rarely exercised after work.
As her weight began to climb she began to suffer from headaches and felt lethargic, before a doctor diagnosed her with dangerously high blood pressure. Her brother-in-law Billy had died of an undiagnosed heart condition at just 52 and the health check scare forced her to take action.
Nichola, who says she knew her health was 'precious' decided to take action and, inspired by her favourite crooners, decided to walk 500 miles from Tyndrum to John O'Groats and back to shed the pounds and raise money for charity.
But to prepare for the lengthy hike, she knew she had to embark on a huge health kick. She began eating healthy meals with smaller portions, cutting out takeaways and threw herself into a new fitness regime.
In three years she dropped four dress sizes and shed a whopping 13 stone. Nichola said: "Changing my diet and exercise basically meant I had to overhaul my entire life.
"It was emotionally and physically exhausting, a real battle. But it was a battle worth fighting."
She will now begin her 500-mile mission across Scotland this weekend by walking 20 miles per day over four weeks and plans to stay with friends along the way. And she'll not be without support, with two very special among those backing Nichola to take down her mammoth effort - the Proclaimers themselves.
She added: "Craig and Charlie have been amazing. They let me use their song lyrics for the logo on our charity t-shirts. I held a whisky auction before setting off and they signed a couple of bottles.
"And of course I've been listening to their music along the way, my favourite song is Love Can Move Mountains. From that first photo with them to their unwavering support they really have inspired me."
Nichola is raising money for four charities; Argyll Beats Cardiovascular Disease (A.B.C.D), Scottish Charity Air Ambulance (S.C.A.A), Worldwide Cancer Research and 500 Miles, who help those with mobility issues. She chose A.B.C.D in memory of her brother Billy while 500 Miles is also close to her heart.
Head to Nichola's official JustGiving page to donate.
