‘I was 23st and told I couldn’t have kids

A Black Country mum has revealed her inspirational weight loss journey after struggling to get pregnant at 23 stone. Bexie Hackett, 44, and husband Tony, 51, had been trying for a child for 11 years. Before she started her weight loss journey, the mum-of-one said she walked on crutches and struggled up stairs, leaving her generally "frightened" about her wellbeing.

Bexie, from Cradley Heath, Sandwell[1], said: "I was walking with crutches, my knees were absolutely wrecked, they really were. "Even going up a flight of stairs, I couldn't breathe. I was in my early 30s, my and my husband wanted to start a family and I was absolutely gutted that the doctors were saying you need to lose weight.

Everyone else around me was having kids, I thought I would never be a mum. Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp[3]. Join our dedicated community to get the latest updates

"I was frightened, I thought I would have to go on some really strict diet. I will be honest, at one point I was even considering weight loss surgery because it was that bad. I just didn't know what to do or where to turn to."

But Bexie discovered Slimming World and was able to lose an incredible eight stone. Still trying for a baby, the couple went for IVF treatment - and it was during a pre-operation procedure that Bexie discovered the brilliant news.

She told BlackCountryLive: "I started my weight-loss journey just before my son was born. The whole reason I started was because I was 23 stone, we wanted to have a child and we had been trying for 11 years.

"Obviously, because of my weight, it just wasn't happening. I started to lose weight then and I lost eight stone. We went for IVF and they said I needed a small operation, nothing major, so I could go ahead with the IVF.

"But in a pre-op appointment, they said 'we can't help you anymore' and I was thinking I have lost all this weight and it's still not going to help me. Then they said, because they had to do a pregnancy test for the pre-op, they said you are already pregnant. "We were speechless and crying, when we got home we did another pregnancy test because we couldn't believe it.

So by losing all that weight originally, I managed to get pregnant naturally, I didn't need IVF in the end. I was able to have my son, and he is the best thing that has ever happened to us."

After giving birth to her son Isaac, 7, Bexie lost a further four stone - meaning she has lost 12 stone in eight years. And her partner Tony has lost six stone in 40 weeks.

Bexie said: "I feel fantastic having lost that weight. Just physically, as well, being able to play with my son, at the weekend we will go out and play football, go swimming, we do all sorts of things. But I wouldn't have been able to do that before."

Bexie said she lost weight through "food optimizing". Explaining the method, she said: "It is easy, you can eat what you want, you won't go hungry with food optimizing, and you can lose weight and still do it and be happy. Slimming world is not a diet, it is jut changing what you eat.

"There are three steps to food optimizing.

You have got unlimited free food, then you have got health extras, then you have got your sins. All your free food is food that is lower in calories, all that Slimming World do is we count the calories for you, so you don't have to." Bexie is now a Slimming World consultant and holds classes at Dudley[4] Wood Methodist Church, in Dudley[5], on Wednesdays at 9.15am and classes at Cole Street Methodist Church, in Netherton, on Mondays at 9am and 10.30am.

The joining up fee is GBP10.95 and the weekly membership is GBP5.95.

For over 60s, the joining fee is GBP10.65 and weekly fee is GBP5.65.

To contact Bexie, call 07848685961.

References

1. ^ Sandwell (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^ Chaos on street as cars crash and men armed with machetes target 'cannabis factory' (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^ BirminghamLive WhatsApp (chat.whatsapp.com)
4. ^ Dudley (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
5. ^ Dudley (www.birminghammail.co.uk)