Weight loss diet plan woman used to lose 8st in two years revealed - how did she do it?

Weight loss isn't easy, but one woman found a diet plan that worked for her. Michelle Thackray was inspired to lose weight after seeing her wedding pictures. The homecare assistant from Leeds was shocked when she looked larger than she expected in her dress.

When she stepped on the scales she weighed 21st 7lbs.

After being diagnosed underactive thyroid – a condition which causes weight gain, tiredness and muscle aches - Michelle accepted the condition might cause some weight gain.

However, it wasn't until she received her wedding photos from her photographer that she realised just how much weight her condition had caused her to pile on.

Michelle said: "I felt a million dollars on my wedding day. But as soon as I got the photos back and actually saw how large I had become, the shock and pure disgust set in. I was absolutely mortified.

"Like most women, I'd spent so long planning my perfect day and spent many weekends looking for my dream dress. When I found it, I didn't think twice about the fact that I was buying it in a size 24 - I thought I looked great. Then the horror set in once the photos arrived. From that moment, I knew that something had to change."

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Weight loss diet plan: Woman ate this to lose 8 stone revealed - how did she do it? (Image: TERRI ANN 123 DIET PLAN)

Weight loss diet plan: Michelle Thackray was inspired to lose weight after seeing her wedding photos (Image: TERRI ANN 123 DIET PLAN)

So, how did Michelle manage to slim down, even with her condition?

She used the Terri Ann 123 Diet Plan, which was created by founder Terri Ann Nunns in 2011.

The diet is made up of three stages. The first stage, the 10-day boost, sees users limit their intake of starchy carbohydrates and boost their intake of protein, vegetables and healthy fats to kick start weight loss.

In stage 2, fruit is reintroduced and intake of starchy carbohydrates boosted before stage 3, which aims to keep weight loss moving by limiting starchy carbohydrates once again, but allowing users to still enjoy fruit.

Before the diet, Michelle would eat huge portions of food, with meals consisting mainly of carbohydrates. Her job as a carer also meant long days with little time for breaks, meaning convenience foods became the norm. Michelle said: "The hardest part of the diet was having to reduce my intake of carbs. Before, I wouldn't think twice about eating bread with nearly every meal.

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"My job also definitely played a part. Whenever I managed to take a break at work I would literally eat anything I could get my hands on at a nearby shop– which was usually crisps, chocolate and a pre packed sandwich or something from a fast food drive-through.

"The days were really long, sometimes from 7am-10pm, so when I did get home I could never be bothered to cook and would to turn to takeaways as an easy fix."

Michelle has lost 8st 3lbs and dropped from a size 24 to a size 14/16 in just two years.

She now enjoys three healthy and nutritious meals a day alongside snacks that are perfect to keep her going in her busy job. She says: "Whenever I went on a diet in the past, I would quickly get bored of the bland food and would end up putting all the weight back on and more. Sticking to the Terri-Ann diet plan has been easy as it allows me to be creative with what I eat."

Weight loss diet plan: Michelle has lost 8st 3lbs and dropped from a size 24 to a size 14/16 (Image: TERRI ANN 123 DIET PLAN)

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Michelle has found being part of a community has helped her to stick to her new lifestyle.

She said: "I dread to think how my mobility would be if I hadn't found this plan and lost the weight. It's given me my confidence back and I now enjoy taking time to get ready and spending money shopping – instead of just ordering clothes from a catalogue for larger women and hoping they fit!"

"I still have my nights out with the girls and 'cheat days', but through the plan I've learnt not to beat myself up about it. It's so easy to stay on track and still enjoy yourself."

Another diet plan that can help you slim down has been credited with helping to burn belly fat fast.

The intermittent fasting diet plan will see dieters restrict how much they eat in a bid to burn fat. 

Corin Sadler, nutritional therapist and product developer at Higher Nature, explained.

He told Express.co.uk: "Research suggests with no change at all to diet, i.e. the same amount of calories, simply delaying breakfast by 90 minutes and having dinner 90 minutes earlier might have an effect on dietary intake, body composition and risk markers for diabetes and heart disease.

"Those who changed their mealtimes were found to have eaten less food overall than the control group and lost an average of two percent body fat than those left to eat at unrestricted times."