A taxi driver who spent years grabbing meals on the go between fares has revealed how she lost more than five stone after reaching breaking point with her weight.
Shermaine Bond, known as Sham, says long shifts behind the wheel, irregular eating habits and a constant battle with food left her feeling trapped in a cycle she could never escape.
At her heaviest, the 38-year-old weighed 14st 6lbs and says she spent years trying “countless” diets without lasting success.
Today, the Sheffield cabbie weighs 9st 1lb and has maintained her weight loss for around six months.
But she says the biggest transformation has not been physical.
Instead, it has been finally escaping the constant thoughts about food that dominated her life for years.
Sham, who has worked in the taxi industry for more than two decades and spent the last seven years driving cabs, believes her weight gain was caused by a combination of factors including genetics and the realities of working long hours on the road.
“My job as a taxi driver didn’t always help with long hours of sitting, irregular meal times and grabbing food on the go,” Sham told Need To Know.
“For me, it’s not one single cause.
“It has been a combination of biological factors, lifestyle and habits that led to my weight increasing over the years.
“When working long shifts or as a taxi driver, you never know where you will be at any time.
“It’s not often you get close to home, so convenience always wins.
“It’s easy to try and start ‘tomorrow’.
“I’ve laid awake for hours making a full plan in my head about how I’m going to take control ‘tomorrow’.
“But after sitting most of the day, finding any motivation is difficult.
“Looking back, I think many taxi drivers will relate to that feeling.
“The intention was always there, but turning the intention into habits was such a challenge.
“I was constantly battling my own thoughts around food and weight, even when I genuinely wanted to make healthier choices.”
Sham, who is 5ft 1in says her breaking point came when she went shopping for a pair of shorts and realised she’d reached a size 18.
She said: “It was a real wake up call.
“It wasn’t really about the shorts themselves, it was the moment I realised how much my weight had gradually affected my life and my confidence.
“I remember thinking ‘is this it? Is this how things are going to stay?’
“That was the point I knew I needed to make a change but I felt so stuck.
“I’d spent years trying to lose weight but nothing stuck long term.”
Sham decided to try weight-loss medication in October 2024 and began taking Mounjaro.
Since then, she has lost an astonishing 5st 5lb.
Sham said: “I wasn’t looking for an easy fix.
“I was looking for support. I’ve never been someone who regularly takes medication, so it wasn’t a decision I took lightly.
“But when I learned this tool was getting results, I jumped at it.
“I did genuinely feel this would be my last ever chance.
“I wasn’t overthinking it, I just knew I couldn’t carry on feeling like this.
“It was worth the try.”
She says one of the biggest surprises was discovering just how much of her mental energy had been consumed by thoughts about food.
Sham said: “It has changed my relationship with food completely.
“What surprised me the most was how much mental space the food thoughts were taking up before, and how completely different it is when they quieten down.
“With food noise quietened, I’m able to be much more mindful of my choices now.
“I look for opportunities to stay active around work.
“If I know it’s a particularly quiet time, I’ll use my workout equipment at home or have a walk around a park.”
Sham says she has completely changed the way she approaches food.
Rather than following restrictive diets, she now focuses on balance, protein and fibre.
Sham said: “Nothing is off limits – I enjoy all foods in moderation.
“I enjoy trying lots of new recipes and making sauces that I never knew were so easy to make.
“I’ve also become more aware of eating patterns, particularly emotional or distracted eating.
“I’m probably spending a little more money now because I’m finding a new style and wearing clothes I never dreamed of even trying on in the past.
“But this has been a positive shift for me.
“It’s not all been straight forward, there are good days and challenging days like anyone else, but my mood and energy has been more stable overall.”
While Sham experienced some side effects initially, she says they were manageable.
She said: “I was super thirsty in the beginning and electrolytes helped.
“I felt so cold – bone chillingly cold – so electric throw kept me warm.
“These side effects settled in time.”
The weight loss has also transformed her confidence.
Sham, who is engaged and due to marry next year, says it has had a positive impact on every area of her life.
She said: “My fiance is my best friend.
“He has always supported me and attended appointments with me.
“But the biggest change has been my confidence and how I see myself.
“How happy I feel now, naturally, has had a positive impact on my relationship.
“I would avoid going to friends’ gatherings and even family visits because I would struggle to feel comfortable.
“I can’t put my finger on the actual emotion, but it really held me back.”
As well as changing her eating habits, Sham now goes to the gym two or three times a week and keeps workout equipment at both home and her caravan so she can stay active wherever she is.
But she insists the journey is far from over.
She added: “I’m aware that weight loss isn’t a straight finish line.
“I’m conscious of maintaining new healthy habits, rather than thinking this is the end and it’s a one time achievement.
“I think there’s misunderstanding that [the medication] does all of the work, but for me, it’s the support I needed to gain control alongside real changes in food choices, routine and mindset.
“It still requires effort, lots of learning and new routines.”
READ MORE: ‘I had postpartum depression as a DAD – and felt nothing when my baby was born’
