Bangor girl who ballooned on snakebites loses six stone after giving up the party lifestyle
She was embarrassed by her graduation photo
An impressive slimmer who piled on the pounds at university after constant boozing has shed a massive six stone thanks to giving up her party animal ways.
Charlotte DeAbreau, 24, a substance misuse worker from Walsall, tipped the scales at 15st 11lb and was struggling to fit into a size 18 when she finished her degree at Bangor University, North Wales.
But when she saw her graduation picture, Charlotte embarked on a new regime which saw her shed the weight.
Charlotte piled on the weight after enjoying endless nights out drinking her favourite tipple – highly potent and calorific drink snakebite and black.
The concoction of cider and lager, diluted with blackcurrant juice, weighs in at a staggering 385 calories a pint.
Party girl Charlotte would often tuck into a whole pizza or cheesy garlic bread after a night out, and after hitting the clubs at least three nights a week, her lifestyle took a massive toll on her figure.
But after she saw photographs of her in a graduation gown, Charlotte signed up for Slimming World and has now shed a massive 38 kilos and can finally slip into a slinky size 10.
She said: “I would pre-drink in our student flat with housemates before we went out and would usually drink wine, lager and some apple Sourz shots with lemonade.
“When I was out I would drink snakebites and black and would always get takeaway on the way home – which was often a whole pizza.”
Charlotte said: “I was bigger as a child but I really piled on the weight when I went to uni due to the cycle of late nights, drinking and snacking on junk.
“I was unhappy with my weight and had tried fad diets in the past and none of them worked.
“When I went to uni, I suddenly had a new sense of freedom and I was in charge on my own finances.
“I would eat a lot of convenience food – pizzas, takeaways and McDonalds and not to mention all the drinking.
“As I gained weight and I became really self-conscious of my arms. I would wear long sleeves even in summer because I felt so uncomfortable.
When Charlotte finished university she embarked on a healthy eating plan with Slimming World and was amazed to lose seven pounds in her first week.
Charlotte said: “It was such a great achievement to lose the weight and as I could see my body changing I was so determined to keep going.
“I changed my eating habits and learnt to cook healthy meals – and I ditched the booze.
“It was such a thrill to see the weight dropping off me.”
Just over a year later and Charlotte has now smashed her goal weight of 10st 5lbs. She now weighs just 10 stone and she has even become employed as a substance misuse worker – helping others who are struggling with alcohol and drug abuse.
Charlotte said: “When I was at uni, I wasn’t looking after myself I was just living the student life of eating and drinking too much.
“Now I have control of my life and have a job I love where I am helping others.
“Before I couldn’t wear the clothes I wanted to because nothing fashionable fitted me.
“Now I have a whole wardrobe of clothes which I love.
“I can now finally shop in Topshop for clothes, which is amazing. I have so much more confidence now.
“I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds now I am in control of my life.”
Charlotte’s diet before:
Breakfast: Sugary cereals or a bagel
Lunch: Packet sandwiches, microwave meals, chocolate and crisps, bakery treats
Dinner: Indian or chinese takeaway, or pizza and chips
Drinks: Wine, lager, snakebites, shots.
Snacks: Late night pizza, cheesy garlic bread.
Diet now:
Breakfast: fruit and porridge
Lunch: chicken salad, omlette
Dinner: Home cooked meals- including chili con carne and chicken with low fat chips.