'i stopped eating one thing and lost 12 stone in nine months'

JASMIN DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION AFTER FEELING ASHAMED TO LOOK AT HERSELF IN THE MIRROR AT ALMOST 22STONE NEIL SHAW Assistant Editor 13:06, 20 May 2025Updated 14:55, 20 May 2025 A chef who was

addicted to takeaways lost 12 stone in nine months after giving up her habit. Jasmin Harman ballooned to 21st 11lbs after having a takeaway every night after work. Jasmine said she would not

feel like cooking after a long shift, so she resorted to eating cheap junk food instead. Jasmin, who had been overweight since school - where she was bullied - said the 'wake-up

call' came after she felt 'ashamed' looking in the mirror one day before her 30th birthday in April last year. Jasmin also wanted to start a family, but was refused medical

help for polycystic ovary syndrome because her BMI was too high. She joined her local Slimming World group, took up Zumba, quit takeaways and began shedding the pounds. Within a matter of

months, Jasmin went from a dress size 26 to a size 10 and a healthy 10 stone. Jasmin, who works as head chef at a dementia care home, said: "Since I was young I have always been on the

larger side, I was bullied at school for being the fat kid. But the final straw for me was looking in the mirror one morning last year and being ashamed at what I saw. I was about to

approach my 30-year milestone and I just thought 'how has it come to this?' "I was very much a takeaway queen because I was cooking all day, we’d order anything that was cheap

and available. We were hoping to start a family soon and needed help from the doctors as I had been diagnosed with PCOS a few years before. We had gone through a lot of intensive

diagnostics only to get a phone call saying that my BMI was too high. Article continues below "I didn’t feel the doctors were very supportive with the fertility side, they were just

going to call us fat and overweight. So I knew I needed to give myself a kick up the bum if I ever wanted to start a family." Jasmin joined Slimming World after her aunt recommended it

and soon began replacing junk food with healthier alternatives. Jasmin added: "I was nervous at first but I soon realised everyone was in the same boat. The first month was pretty much

following the healthy eating plan, and then from there I've added in more exercises. I’ve taken a bit of the cooking I know I can do and began doing it at home. "I'd always

loved dancing, but felt insecure about my size, but as the pounds came off, I grew in confidence. I haven't stopped dancing since. I fell in love with Zumba and will continue to shimmy

and shake. It’s an exercise that doesn’t feel like an exercise, it’s like going to a club." Jasmin said her diet beforehand would consist of skipping breakfast, and then feasting on

quick beige foods like crisps, sausage rolls and biscuits. For dinner she said they would order enough to ‘feed a family’, focusing on cheap pizzas, KFC and McDonald’s. But to lose the

weight Jasmin has switched to healthy overnight oats for breakfast, while her lunch is primarily pre-made salads and yoghourts. While dinner is either a twist on healthy Slimming World

recipes or equally healthy, high-protein meals. She now exercises for at least eight hours a week and spends more time walking her golden retriever and tending to her horse. Jasmin said:

“I’ve started using the gym as a mental break. When life gets in the way, instead of turning to the cupboard, I go to the gym or walk the dog. "I walk around with confidence and

self-worth with my head held high. Now it’s also a lot easier to shop, beforehand it was very difficult to find anything flattering for my age group. I was very much online shopping. But now

I can go to a normal shop for clothes - it has completely transformed my life. Article continues below "I have learned to love myself again and no longer hiding in the shadows, quiet

and alone, instead of pushing people away, I embrace every interaction. Sometimes I still can't believe it." Jasmin's Slimming World consultant, Rachel, said: "Jasmin is

such an inspiration to all the members and me personally. Her determination and dedication are admirable and we are all so incredibly proud of her and her life-changing achievement."