The family photo in Lanzarote that shocked me enough to lose four stone

Lucy Musiol had always struggled with her weight. A size 20, she hated clothes shopping and would make up excuses not to go out.

But one single photograph helped her kick-start her health journey – seeing her go on to lose an incredible four stone.

The mum-of-two, from Reddish in Stockport, was enjoying a family holiday in Lanzarote in September 2022 when her husband snapped a photo of their children.

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When Lucy spotted herself in the background, she was horrified by what she saw.

“I was devastated,” the 38-year-old told the Manchester Evening News. “I couldn’t believe it.

“You don’t realise until you see a photograph of yourself. I just came back, went to work and thought, ‘I have to lose weight’.”

Lucy decided to join Slimming World on her return to the UK and was put on a personalised dieting plan straight away. At the start of her journey, she weighed 16 stone.

Alongside the diet, she also took up running – something she had always dreamed of doing since being a child.

“I could carry on what I was eating but make sure it was fresh mostly,” Lucy continued. “I had to avoid snacking; I was always snacking on bars of chocolate but I could swap them for a Freddo. I made little changes that were easy to fit into my lifestyle.”

By dieting and exercising using the Coach to 5k app, Lucy has lost an incredible four stone – now weighing 12 stone after dropping four dress sizes.

“The energy is there now,” Lucy continued. “And mentally – even being able to go out for date nights with my husband and dress up.

“I won’t be making excuses not to go out and not to go clothes shopping anymore. I love it. I used to hate it.

“Bev and