Police Officer Sheds Half Her Body Weight In Time For Dream Wedding

A police officer who shed half her body weight in time for a dream wedding has said she is now the person she’s ‘always wanted to be’.

Niamah Haddow, 24, from Abergavenny, Wales, weighed 19 stone in 2015 after graduating from university and living on a ‘uni diet’ of alcohol, pizza, and junk food.

The 24-year-old said she knew she had to lose weight when she struggled to fit into the rides at a theme park during a holiday for her 21st birthday.

That experience, combined with her mum’s concern for her health, acted as a catalyst for Niamah’s weight loss and she made the decision to transform her life.

Speaking to UNILAD, Niamah said she was ‘mortified’ when her birthday celebrations in Florida were ruined because of her weight.

She said:

To start I had to get an extra seatbelt on the plane, then walking around the theme parks was a nightmare. My feet were so swollen and I honestly couldn’t walk. I was crying in pain.

Then I went to go on one of the roller coasters, and I didn’t fit, when I went onto the next one I was put in the fat seat! I was mortified.

The 24-year-old started her weight loss journey after she returned from the trip in 2015, and joined Slimming World once her mum told her she was worried for her health.

She burst into tears when she stepped onto the scales at her first session. Up until that point, she had no idea how much she weighed.

Niamah reached her goal weight in December 2016 after dropping six dress sizes from a size 22 to a size 10, but kept going because she wanted to get fitter.

She has since started an Instagram page to share her weight loss journey and inspire others who may be in similar situations.

At her biggest, Niamah described her diet as a complete ‘uni diet’, saying:

So basically I was on a complete uni diet, like I’d have takeaway god knows how many times a week! I’d be drinking every night (uni life) and I’d just eat a packet of biscuits when I was hungry.

Although her partner was supportive of her throughout her journey, Niamah said their relationship wasn’t perfect before her weight loss because she was paranoid he would find someone better.

Now though, they eat Slimming World meals together and she describes him as ‘so understanding’ of her new, stricter lifestyle.

And to top it all off, the couple recently got married and had their dream wedding – which Niamah says would not have happened if she hadn’t lost weight.

She said:

I honestly don’t think I would have got married unless I lost weight, my dress was a fish tail dress which was so tight fitted. I honestly don’t know what I would have even worn if I hadn’t lost weight.

I had a Harry Potter wedding which obviously drew a lot of attention. If I hadn’t have lost weight I wouldn’t have done that.

She now says she feels amazing, describing herself as ‘the person I always wanted to be’. The 24-year-old has even embarked upon a new career, becoming a police officer which she said would not have been possible before her weight loss.

Speaking about her new-found confidence, Niamah attributed it all to Slimming World, saying:

Slimming world changed my life. The ladies in my group helped me so much! My attitude always was that: no matter how much I want to eat this junk food, feeling good about myself always felt better so I never went off plan!

It changes lives. I now live in Australia, dream life, dream job! And I’ve accomplished so much that I couldn’t have without losing weight because I wouldn’t have had the confidence.

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