‘I lost my heartbreak weight following method that has worked for 60 years – I’m 7st down WITHOUT jabs’
A woman has lost seven stone by following a more traditional weight loss method over popular weight loss injections – after a breakup saw her pile on the pounds.
Fran Holmes had turned to comfort eating after the end of her seven-year relationship, and she was horrified when she couldn’t recognise herself in a picture.
The 33-year-old knew she needed to make a change – but with weight loss jabs new on the market, she decided to take a more old-fashioned approach.
Having attended Weight Watchers group years prior, and having some success, she decided to use the tried and tested method rather than Mounjaro or Wegovy – and she has gone on to have incredible success.
“My weight gain was mainly due to a breakup – after ending a nearly seven-year-long relationship, I turned to food for comfort because it was all I knew,” Fran, a team manager within the Welsh government, told Need To Know.
“The weight crept up and up until I was the heaviest I had ever been, at 22 stone 7lbs.
“But even then, I still continued.”
Fran, who lives in Caerphilly, South Wales, was eating enormous foot-long Subway sandwiches, McDonald’s and KFC takeaways, pizzas, and pasta dishes designed to feed four people.
It wasn’t until she saw the picture of herself in Christmas 2024 that she knew enough was enough.
She said: “I couldn’t recognise myself.
“I had let myself get to a place where I didn’t think I could recover from.
“I knew change was needed, but knew I wouldn’t be able to lose the weight by myself.”
Fran had previously used Weight Watchers weekly meetings to stay accountable while losing weight before the breakup.
While medications like WeGovy and Mounjaro were just starting to surge in popularity, Fran decided against taking the jab.
She said: “Knowing I had previously lost weight following Weight Watchers made me decide not to go the weight loss jab route.”
Instead, she decided to go back to the weekly meetings, sticking with the diet company which has been around for more than 60 years.
While Fran isn’t against the jabs, she felt the in-person nature of the group has been the key to keeping her going throughout her journey.
She said: “Although it had been four years, the familiar faces made it feel like I’d never left.
“Going back to an in-person workshop was a must – virtual classes weren’t for me as I do enough virtual meetings in work, and I need that personal human interaction.
“I used the structure of the Weight Watchers app and meal plans to make mindful food choices, which ultimately delivered long-lasting results.
“It was all about making small, sustainable changes rather than an ‘all or nothing’ approach – which I’ve tried before, with not much success.
“It sounds cliché, but I took each day as it came and focused on meal prepping and portion control, which made it a lot easier to know what I was eating each day – and made reaching for unhealthy snacks harder to do.
“The weekly workshops also played a vital role in my weight loss.
“They not only helped me stay accountable each week, but also helped me to connect with other people on similar paths.
“Without the classes and my coach, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve my weight loss and stay motivated and consistent.”
As the weight started to drop off, Fran signed up for weekly circuit classes and Pilates sessions.
In 18 months, she has managed to shed seven stone, dropping to 15st 2lbs and now wearing a size 16 – as opposed to the size 26-28 she previously wore.
The young woman has praised the more traditional weight loss method for what has become an entire overhaul of her lifestyle.
Fran said: “I feel so confident and appreciate my body so much more now.
“Prior to losing weight, simple tasks such as popping into a few high street shops would fill me with anxiety as I never knew if they would go up to my clothing size.
“Now I can confidently walk into a shop knowing that my size is stocked and without feeling like I shouldn’t be shopping out in public.
“I’m able to live more freely.
“I no longer worry about going outside with my arms out anymore, whereas Fran 18 months ago, would have never dreamt of doing that.
“I feel so much more confident trying new things.
“I’m also no longer afraid to go on dates now and just be myself – I no longer feel the need to try to be funny or overconfident to distract from my size.
“And I’m no longer hiding in oversized T-shirts and leggings!”
DIET BEFORE WEIGHT LOSS
Breakfast: Nothing
Lunch: Footlong Subway sandwich with crisps, or a McDonald’s/KFC takeaway
Evening: Large pizza, a takeaway, or a pasta to serve four people
CURRENT DIET
Breakfast: Overnight oats with fruit, or homemade banana pancakes with fruit, yoghurt, Biscoff sauce and seeds
Lunch: Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon with a protein bagel, or a chicken salad bagel with low-calorie crisps
Evening: Homemade ramen, two-ingredient pizza dough topped with zero-point toppings and cheese, or chicken fajitas
