A new mother who spent nearly £10,000 a year on takeaways lost seven stone after being warned by doctors she may not see her daughter grow up.
Lillie Monro, 24, from Halstead, Essex, had always struggled with her weight and was spending as much as £800 per month on fast food – often having takeaway burger for breakfast.
Lillie, who weighed 19st 1lb when she gave birth to Mila, made the promise to herself to lose weight and switched to salads. In just one year, Lillie went from being a 22-24-inch woman to a 10–12 inch girl.
The mother says that her food bills have halved, she no longer spends £150-200 a week on fast food, and she can climb the stairs and play with Mila without getting out of breath.
Lillie Monro, 24, from Halstead, Essex, went from a size 22-24 (left) to a 10-12 (right) in just one year after swapping takeaways for healthy home cooked meals
Following being advised by doctors, Mila’s mom pledged her support and changed her mind.
Lillie stated that she had lost the weight of a complete person.
‘My GP said I would not see my daughter grow up, so I was forced to make drastic changes. It’s unlikely that I would have done it without her and Mila.
“I just love playing with her. I was unable to do it before. Slimming World is all that I exercised.
“I enjoyed it. I could still eat very large portions. The only thing I did was to change the quantities of various foods, so that I was eating the correct things more often and cooking from scratch.
The mother says that after dropping from 19st 1lb (left) to 12st (right) food bills have halved no longer spends £150-200 a week on fast food, and she can climb the stairs and play with Mila without getting out of breath
Lillie, who lost seven stone in weight and now enjoys going out again after eating only two meals instead of the previous three.
“At the beginning I thought it was just a diet. However, it’s actually a lifestyle adjustment and that’s what makes it so effective.
Recently, Kerry Katona revealed that her family had lived on takeaways for six months in a chat ahead of new Channel 4 show Celebrity Trash Monsters: What’s Your Waste.
Comparing herself to the former popstar, Lillie said: ‘I lived on takeout like Kerry Katona and I was equally mortified when I realised this was the example I was setting for my child.
It would be humiliating to have to wear a suit that was made out of household trash like Kerry.
Lillie is pictured L-R following her 7 stone weight loss. She was too conscious to leave the house before losing weight.
‘It can be easy to feel ashamed by your fast-food habit, Kerry and mine did. However, fast food is addictive and all around you: promising an easy and fulfilling life.
“It is not healthy for you, but cooking can be fun and so much healthier for your health.”
Lillie, a teenager weighing 17-stone, joined her first weight loss program at age 12 or 13. Although she tried many other diets, her weight continued to rise.
Lillie weighed 21st before Mila was born, which is now two years later.
According to her, the new mom was uncomfortable with her weight. She wouldn’t shop or go out with friends and she won’t order meals at restaurants.
Mila was only three months when Mila visited her GP. In May 2019, Mila received medication to treat anxiety and depression.
According to the female doctor, her mother’s weight could put her at high risk for heart disease, diabetes and other diseases. She also said she may not be able to see her child grow up.
Lillie, a new-mum, had worried about Mila’s death when Mila was admitted to neonatal intensive medical care. She had been born just hours before her due date.
Lillie said, “You wouldn’t expect your doctor tell you to put your clogs on, but she did it and I am so grateful for that.”
“That was the wake-up call that I needed. “That was my wake-up call.
“I was so upset that I went to the GP. Although I knew that I was overweight, my eating habits were poor, she stated it to me and I was shocked at the size of my body.
“I was addicted to junk food all the time. And you always feel hungry when you eat it, so I eat more. “I’m not sure how I managed to afford it.”
Lillie became too embarrassed to exercise and researched online weight loss forums. In Instagram, she shared weekly her weight loss journey with others and also shared recipes and other ideas.
In a single year she lost 12 stone and has maintained this weight since then, she stated.
Lillie loved to watch TV while cuddling up with a couple of Haribo bars and sharing a few Haribo bags.
Lillie, who weighed 21st, just before Mila was born, and then 19st 1, shortly afterwards (pictured right). Right, the mom is now a thin size 10 and weighs 12 stones.
She’d have junk-food treats like greasy pizza, or massive burger with fries, for lunch and/or dinner at least five days a week: costing between £150 and £200 she said.
She said she would eat a cheeseburger, bacon sandwich, or big bars of chocolate as breakfast but cannot abide fried foods right now.
Lillie has returned to her love of eating out and now eats two meals instead of the previous three. A salad and a grilled shish are her favorite dishes.
Mostly Lillie likes to eat-in now: cooking her own favourites like curry or Chinese fake-away: spending around £50 to £60 a week. “I am just so happy right now,” she said.
“Variety is so important. If you keep doing the same thing, you become bored. It was important to learn how to cook. “I have been saving so much money for a mortgage but I first enjoyed shopping for new clothes.”