A Proclaimers superfan lost a whopping 13 stone after being shocked by a picture she had taken with her idols.
Mum-of-two Nichola Maclean has been a die-hard fan of Craig and Charlie Reid since she was 10-years-old, but the 45-year-old thought she looked 'huge' in a snap with the superstars following a gig in Oban in 2018.
Nichola, who stands at 6 foot 3, said the picture left her mortified after her weight ballooned to 27 stone over the years.
The retail supervisor told the Record: "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 Tyndrum, Perthshire started to pile on the pounds while working 70-hour weeks in a burger van.
Nichola 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 continued: "I knew my health was precious and I had to do something."
Inspired by her favourite crooners, Nichola planned to walk 500 miles from Tyndrum to John O'Groats and back in a bid to lose weight and raise money for charity.
But to prepare for the lengthy hike 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.
For more information on high blood pressure visit the NH S website.
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