SWNSYour wedding photos are supposed to be the proudest additions to your photo album, a special reminder of the happiest day of your life.
However, for Debbie Dyson-Fussey, this was simply not the case. Debbie hated the way she looked in the photographs so much, she tore them to pieces.
The 36-year-old from Hull felt ‘disgusted’ with her 26-stone-physique and vowed to make a serious change to her lifestyle.
Since then she has shown great determination, dropping half her body weight and looking like a whole new woman.
A year before her wedding day, Debbie proposed to her now-hubby Paul through the modern medium of a text message.
Happily, he accepted. However, there were challenges ahead. When looking for her dream dress, a bridal shop told her they had no dresses large enough to fit her.
Debbie said:
I was that big I couldn’t get a dress to fit me.
I weighed 26st and I walked into a bridal shop and they said, ‘we haven’t got anything to fit you’.
I was heartbroken, I was so embarrassed – I came out of the shop and I sobbed my heart out.
And the wedding day too proved to be emotional for all the wrong reasons.
According to Debbie:
I cried all the way down the aisle – what should have been the happiest day of my life was my worst.
When the photographs came through, I hated them, I ripped them up.
Paul said, ‘you look nice’ and I said, ‘I don’t, I look disgusting’, and I tore them up – I didn’t want them on my wall.
However, after joining Slimming World for the third time, Debbie has shed a staggering 13 stone in just nine months; dropping down to a svelte 12st and 12lbs, fitting comfortably in size 14 clothes.
SWNSNow, Debbie and Paul are planning to renew their vows; this time with pictures to treasure.
Debbie said:
I’m so much happier in myself.
Going from a size 26 to a size 14, I feel amazing, I’m not embarrassed anymore.
Speaking about her upcoming second nuptials, the happy-at-last bride added:
I’m so looking forward to it – I can have my dream wedding now.
It’s so hard to keep motivated to reach your fitness goals, especially when you are lacking in confidence.
However, Debbie has proved that it can be done and has transformed her life in a healthy and positive way.
Debbie, you are an inspiration and your newfound excitement is well-deserved. Here’s to many, many happy years for the bride and groom!
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.