Mum admits she buried her head in the sand, as the weight piled on.
Speaking to Scottish Slimmers, mum of two, Lesley, from Carnoustie, admits that she buried her head in the sand for years and didn't really pay attention to her weight.
'My children acted like a human cover-up,' she laughs 'as I would grab them to stand in front of me if there was a camera anywhere in the vicinity! 'I was mostly the one in charge of the camera.'
'It wasn't until I was away on holiday to Tenerife with my parents and younger daughter, when I realised how big I had become.
I Struggled to Recognise Myself
'Someone managed to take a couple of photos of me - and there was one of me sitting down and I was really shocked. I struggled to recognise myself - I'd gotten good at never actually looking at myself in the mirror.
Lesley remembers feeling embarrassed and self-conscious when she saw the holiday photos. 'It was only when I looked at these holiday pictures that I realised how big I had become. And how much of an issue my weight was.'
Lesley realised that she needed to take control of her health and started by making small changes to her diet. Then going for short walks every day, gradually increasing her activity levels. 'I had lived my life through my kids and realised I had to do it for me this time,' she said.
'My decision coincided with me having a dental brace fitted, after years of problems with my teeth. I decided to get them and my weight sorted once and for all. Lesley joined Scottish Slimmers and never looked back.
At her heaviest, Lesley weighed almost 17 stone and, losing more than 6 stone, got to a slender size 10.
I had no self-confidence
'Before losing weight I ached all over. I had no energy and felt frumpy. I hated how I felt, I had no self-confidence whatsoever. Since losing the weight I have so much more energy and motivation to do new things. In fact I actually started taking skiing lessons and I love it.'
'I love skiing although there is no way I could have learnt to ski when I was 6 stone overweight!' Lesley's husband Frank booked a trip of a lifetime to celebrate their wedding anniversary and, says Lesley 'by the time the trip came around, I felt fantastic.'
Grabbing Life with Both Hands
We had an amazing time, we walked everywhere in New York and when I got back I was delighted to find I hadn't put on an ounce! Just goes to show how beneficial walking is for weight loss.'
These days Lesley is a brand new-person, 6 dress sizes slimmer and more than 6 stone lighter, and a whole lot of experience later.
It wasn't easy and there were times when she felt like giving up. But with the support of her family and friends, Lesley persevered to see her amazing results.
Lesley is proud of the progress she has made and is determined to keep up with her healthy habits.
Now she hopes her story can inspire others to take control of their health and make positive changes, no matter how small they may seem.
'Losing weight has changed my perspective on life. I'm now grabbing hold of it with both hands rather than sitting on the side lines.'
'And I've never been happier!'