Bride-to-be shed five dress sizes fearing her wedding photos being her 'before' pics

Bride-to-be Emily Drummond dropped an incredible five dress sizes after vowing her wedding photos would never be her weight-loss “before” pictures.

The 26-year-old went from a size 20 to a size 10 by ditching calorie-counting and eating the food she loves. “I joined Slimming World in January 2020 weighing 18st 4lb,” says Emily, who has now lost more than 6st after being spurred on when boyfriend Paul Campbell popped the question. I can’t believe how far I’ve come.

"I never in my life would have believed I could have lost over 6st by having the freedom to enjoy the foods I like. I’ve gone down from a size 20 to a size 10 and I can’t wait to walk down the aisle in the wedding dress I’ve chosen. The date is set and we’re keeping everything crossed that we’ll be able to have the wedding we dreamed of.”

Emily shed five dress sizes before her wedding to Paul

It wasn’t the easiest of journeys for Emily, though. “I’d spent years trying to lose weight and feel like I’ve tried every weight-loss method available,” she says. “But I never managed to stick to it for more than three days. I found calorie-counting far too vague and I was always amazed you could have a takeaway so long as it was within your calorie count.”

A study by ­Slimming World found Emily, from Newcastle, Co Down, was far from alone in finding calorie-counting hard. Almost three-quarters of adults said they felt it takes away the freedom of enjoying food. Slimming World’s Carolyn Pallister agrees, saying: “From a health perspective, it’s important to think about the foods you eat and not only the calories in them.”

While Emily’s goal was to be a slimmer bride, an “all-you-can-eat” holiday and trip to Las Vegas followed Paul’s proposal and by Christmas 2019 she was the heaviest she had ever been. Christmas Eve brought the final straw,” she says. “My mum gave everyone a gift of matching pyjamas. I opened mine and saw they were a size 20, that was it.” A fortnight later, she joined Slimming World and “never looked back”.

Emily Drummond

Starting weight: 18st 4lbs

Current weight: 12st 0.5lb

Total weight Loss: 6st 3.5lbs

BEFORE

Breakfast: Sausage sandwich covered in ketchup or a warm sausage roll from the local bakery

Lunch: A meal deal baguette filled with chicken sweet chilli sauce accompanied with a share bag of crisps, a chocolate bar and a fizzy drink.

Dinner: At least two takeaways a week or spaghetti Bolognese made with sauce from a jar and garlic bread

Snacks: Chocolate biscuits and crisps.

AFTER

Breakfast: Fruit salad or Slimming World-style pancakes or ham and egg cups

Lunch: Homemade soup or left-over dinner from the night before

Dinner: Homemade lasagne and chips

Snack: Fruit, fat-free flavoured yogurt, mini flump marshmallows

A version of this story was first published in June 2021.