A GREENOCK mum says the fear of not being able to fit into a plane seat due to her weight motivated her to shed 10 stone.

Laura Campbell from Kilcreggan View, was keen to set off on a dream holiday to New Zealand but worried that she would be unable to squeeze into the aircraft for the 26 hour flight.

But she refused to let her weight get in the way of her dream trip so she signed up for the Slimming World Group in Boglestone Community Centre and has never looked back.

Over the past two years, Laura has lost an incredible 10 stone and dropped eight dress sizes, allowing her to jet out to New Zealand.

The inspirational 34-year-old, who is mum to Euan, eight, says she feels better than ever.

She said: “I can run with my son without getting out of breath, I can go into a ‘normal’ shop and pick up clothes rather than a plus-sized clothes shop. 

“I have gone from a 26/28 to a 12/14 and couldn’t be happier.”

Laura, who works as a clerical officer at Greenock Health Centre, said difficult family circumstances led her to develop unhealthy eating habits.

She said: “At my heaviest I weighed 22 stone and six pounds.

“At the time I had gone through a lot of ups and downs with my family and personal life.

“My grandfather passed away in October 2015 and my nana passed away five weeks later.

“My step dad was also diagnosed with mouth and throat cancer the week before my grandfather passed away so it was a very difficult time.”

Laura says that during this stressful time her diet was fast food.

She said: “I was eating Chinese, chippies, just anything quick which I could pick up. It was just convenience food.”

Laura says that going through these hard times gave her the motivation to improve her health.

She added: “My initial goal was to lose six stone by 18th December 2016 to go on a family holiday to New Zealand, but my biggest fear was that I wouldn’t fit into the seat, terrified at the thought of being squeezed into it for 26 hours.

“I also desperately wanted to take my then-six-year-old son swimming but couldn’t for fear of embarrassing him.”

Laura plucked up the courage to attend the Slimming World group at Boglestone Community Centre in Port Glasgow.

She said: “I was nervous as I wondered if I could stick to it.

“But when I went along everyone was so welcoming and I met a great bunch of people.”

With simple changes to her eating habits and some exercise, the weight began to fall off Laura and she was able to go on the trip of a lifetime.

She said: “When I arrived in New Zealand, my uncle said ‘where is the other half of you?’

“It was a great feeling to sit on the plane comfortably and not be squeezed in.”

Laura says she feels so much better than she did before.
She told the Tele: “I have so much more energy and confidence. 

“My back problems have also cleared up.”

Laura says her dramatic weight loss is all down to making simple changes in her life with the support of her local Slimming World group.

She said: “Now I batch cook and freeze my meals.

“I can still enjoy all the foods I love like chilli, soups, curry and loads of fruit and veg, potatoes, pasta and rice.”

Joanne Smith, who runs the Slimming World Group in Boglestone Community Centre, says Laura is an inspiration to everyone.

She said: “Laura is amazing, she takes everything step by step and even if she had a knock she never let it get her down.

“Her positivity is very inspiring to everyone in the group. I’ve never known anyone so determined in my life.”