She couldn’t bear to look in the mirror at her bulging figure and her addiction to takeaways and unhealthy snacks was spiralling out of control.
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However, Jess was given a harsh reality check when she went shopping with her mum in the Boxing Day sales – and was left in tears when she struggled to fit into even size 26 clothing.
Determined to do something about her weight, the business owner, 28, signed up to Slimming World with her partner Nick and has since shed an impressive seven stone in just 18 months.
And she even managed to achieve her trim 11 stone physique without ditching her favourite dishes – including Chinese food, pasta and chips.
She said: “Losing that amount of weight has completely and utterly changed my life.
“I’m beyond grateful, it’s shown me the light at the end of the tunnel and moving me away from the horrendous relationship I had with food.”
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Jess first realised she needed to lose weight when her parents pointed out her visible weight gain every time she returned home from university.
The pounds had piled on after she moved away from home, where her family would cook her healthy meals, and she instead began gorging on snacks and convenience food.
Jess said: “Deep down, my weight made me miserable, but I didn’t show that until one day, I broke down in the changing room, in front of my Mum when I couldn’t fit into a size 26 top.”
Jess soon decided to search for ways to lose weight – and stumbled across Slimming World.
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Jess managed to persuade her boyfriend Nick to join her and they headed to the first session as a couple.
Jess told Bucks Herald: “We were warmly greeted by members of staff and were introduced to the consultant at Slimming World, who talked us through the healthy eating plan.
“I have to say we were initially sceptical, in just 20 minutes they explained what we should be eating in order to lose about half a stone in two weeks – it all sounded a bit too good to be true.”
Despite this, Jess stuck to the plan and shed 3.5lbs, while her boyfriend Nick lost a whole stone in just one week.
I was surprised about the variety of foods that I could still eat, stuff like spaghetti bolognese and Chinese ‘fakeaways’, homemade curries and even chips and still lose weight
Jess Levett
And the thing Jess was most surprised about was that she didn’t have to give up any of her favourite foods, including Chinese dishes.
She added: “I was surprised about the variety of foods that I could still eat, stuff like spaghetti bolognese and Chinese ‘fakeaways’, homemade curries and even chips and still lose weight.
“I still enjoy my cuppa with a Crunchie in the evenings.”
As her dress sizes continued to tumble, Jess scooped several awards in her Slimming World Group, winning Group’s Woman of the Year twice in a row.
Jess and Nick also won “Couple of the Year” twice.
And in 18 months, Jess lost seven stone while her partner Nick lost 10.5 stone.
Jess joked: “It’s like we’ve lost a whole extra person in bed.”
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At her target weight and as a size 12, Jess says she now feels happier than ever and her family have been overwhelmed by just how much her weight loss has changed her.
She said: “I am now smaller than I was when I was 16 and I even put my year 11 prom dress back on and it was too big.
“My Dad looked at me like I was standing in my wedding dress, with tears in his eyes, so proud of the woman I’d unveiled after years of having such an unhealthy relationship with food.
“My family have been such an incredible support.
“I’ve always been such a big fashion lover, and to be able to walk into any shop and pick items off the shelves knowing it will fit just feels absolutely incredible.
“I’m no longer forced online to buy clothes and I no longer feel like I have to wear black.”
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Jess is now looking to help others who want to kick-start their weight loss journey, and has taken up the role of a Slimming World Consultant.
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Jess said: “With the combination of the training and my experience of my own personal journey, I am ready and raring to support others in achieving their dreams and goals.”
You can follow her weight loss journey on her Instagram page @florallifestyle_sw
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