A woman who was so obese she was unable to tie her own shoelaces as recalled the shameful moment she decided she needed to overhaul her health – or face an early death.
Louise Gough, 29, loved nothing more than getting glammed up for a night on the town, but as she struggled to catch her breath as she boogied alongside her slim pals, she was overcome with embarrassment.
She said: ‘I was on a night out in Cardiff for my mother-in-law’s 60th birthday, but I couldn’t dance for more than an hour without sweating and being out of breath.
‘I had bought size 18 stretchy jeans, which were extremely tight-fitting and made me realise I was actually more like a size 20-22.
‘My friend had to do my shoes up for me because I physically couldn’t bend down to do it myself without losing my breath.
‘I was in absolute denial about how big and unhealthy I was, but I felt so ashamed of myself that night.’
Ms Gough, a business owner from Caerphilly, South Wales, weighed 15st 8lbs (218lbs/98kg) at the time, and had just lost her sporty father, David, to a heart attack when he was aged just 52.
It was the wake-up call she needed, and a year on the mum-of-one is almost unrecognisable, having dropped down to 9st 6lbs.
Ms Gough said: ‘I had depression after losing my dad, and it made me spiral – I lost all interest in taking care of myself.
Louise Gough before she lost weight (left) and now (right)
She has noticed a change in her hair since eating better
‘On my 29th birthday, I had the realisation that if I passed away at the same time my dad did, I’d only have 23 short years left on this planet.
‘I was petrified [of something similar happening to me].
‘My dad was fit – he played rugby and walked our dog every single day for hours – but he wasn’t healthy.
‘He had a heart attack due to clogged arteries, which were caused by a poor diet.
‘It made me want to do this [lose weight] for my health.’
She also wanted to make sure that she is around to watch her 5-year-old daughter grow up.
Ms Gough concentrated on her nutrition, working out the calories and macronutrients she needed to hit each day in order to be in a deficit, and get enough protein.
Eating 1,800 calories a day, and aiming to get 8,000-10,000 steps in, in the first three months, she had shed two-and-a-half stone.
Ms Gough at her heaviest
It was during a big night out she realised she needed to lose weight (left)
Feeling full of energy and eager to keep going, Louise joined a gym and started training daily, as well as taking up running.
She hasn’t drunk alcohol or eaten a takeaway since that night out, back in October 2024 and, a year on, Louise is now a slim size eight and feels entirely better in herself.
She said: ‘Life has changed drastically for me since losing weight.
‘I have energy like I’ve never had before – not even in my teens.
‘I can run around with my five-year-old with ease, fit in the slides at the park, and run around the tiny soft plays easily.
‘I’ve gone from binging on the sofa most days to training for half marathons in my spare time.
‘Events are so much easier now too – I hated shopping [before] because I always wanted to cover certain things up, but now I’m confident in most clothes.
‘I absolutely love the way that I look now.
‘As I’ve concentrated on nutrition, my skin has never been better, and my hair is thicker and shinier than ever before.’
Ms Gough adheres to the 80/20 rule, which means ’80 per cent of nutritional, whole foods, and 20 per cent of less nutritional, nicer, luxury foods’.
She has found that the less she eats junk, the less she wants it.
‘I don’t crave rubbish food at all anymore – my body really craves nutrition and I love it,’ she said.
‘I’m so proud of myself for turning my life around.
‘I feel healthy and energised every single day, and I’ve hopefully reversed some of the damage I’d previously done and get to spend extra time with my daughter.’
