I was so fat I’d squeeze into 46in waist men’s work clothes – then my sister died in bed and I transformed my life
A WOMAN who piled on the pounds after adopting her sister’s children has lost a whopping seven and a half stone.
Gemma Prosser, 39, was always on the “bigger side” but saw the weight creep on after her nieces – Rubie, 16, and Izzy, 11 – moved in.
Gemma and her partner, Gaz Regan, 39, a lorry driver, selflessly took in the children after her sister, Ceriann, 36, passed away from a cardiac arrest in September 2016.
She passed away on her birthday, after a weekend of celebrating together.
Now looking after three kids – including her 18-year-old son Iestyn – Gemma found herself turning to convenient meals like pizza, chips and chicken nuggets.
At her biggest, Gemma hit 20st 9lbs.
The self-confessed tomboy didn’t feel comfortable in dresses and would wear men’s work clothes instead – squeezing into a 46inch waist.
Gemma was “never bothered” about her increasing waistline, until photos during a trip to Gower, South Wales, made her think twice.
After uploading the snaps on Facebook, she was horrified by her “rubber ring” stomach and was determined to shift the weight.
She signed up to Slimming World in August 2023 and completely overhauled her diet, switching to healthy, homemade meals.
In less than a year, she shed a whopping 7st 7lbs and was down to 13st 1lb and a slender size 14.
Gemma, a factory worker, from Cwmfelinfach, said: “I became a mum-of-three overnight.
“I promised I’d look after her kids, and I have my own too.
“I knew I needed to make sure I was around to care for them.
“When I look back, I can’t believe how big I got but I was tall so I carried the weight well.
“My blood pressure was increasing, and I knew I had to take some action.”
Gemma was always “tall and big” as a teen and watched her weight “balloon” after giving birth to her son in 2005.
In 2016, Gemma tragically lost her sister, Ceriann, on her own birthday, on September 12, 2016.
Ceriann suffered a cardiac arrest – when the heart suddenly stops beating – in bed.
It was a hectic household and it was always easier to stick something in the oven, like chicken nuggets, or just get a takeaway pizza
Gemma Prosser
Gemma selflessly took over the custody of her daughters, who moved in with them in their house Cwmfelinfach.
She said: “My sister had suffered with high blood pressure since she was 18.
“We’d had just celebrated a big weekend for my birthday before she died.
“Ceriann went to sleep and never woke-up. We were so shocked and heartbroken.
“It did make we worry about my own health.”
Gemma said she really let her “weight slip” over the last six years.
She never ate breakfast and would snack on chocolate bars and crisps during the day.
By the time she got home for dinner, Gemma would opt for convenient oven food or order a takeaway.
“It was a hectic household, especially with two more children,” she said.
“It was always easier to stick something in the oven for us to eat, like chicken nuggets, or just get a takeaway pizza.
“I had the diet of a child.”
At her biggest, Gemma weighed 20st 9lbs and wore a size 46inch trouser.
She felt more comfortable in men’s work wear.
“I used to hate wearing dresses, I mainly wore Dickies men’s work clothes,” she said.
“I remember wearing shorts and t-shirts at my cousin’s hen do in Portugal, while all the girls wore dresses.
“I felt like the odd one out.”
LIGHTBULB MOMENT
In August 2023, Gemma took a staycation trip with her partner, Gaz.
She struggled to walk on the hiking trails without “panting” and suffered terrible knee pain due to her weight.
She said: “I was always happy-go-lucky with my weight – it didn’t bother me.
“But my partner took some photos on that trip of me sat on this rock.
“He was like, ‘I bet you won’t put that on Facebook’.
“I uploaded them and I couldn’t believe how big my stomach looked.
“I knew I had to make a change.”
Gemma's old diet - and what she eats now
Before Gemma lost weight, she would eat:
- Breakfast – nothing
- Lunch – sandwich, chocolate bar and crisps
- Dinner – takeaway pizza, chicken nuggets and chips
- Snacks – crisps
- Drinks – fizzy drinks
Now, the mum eats:
- Breakfast – Weetabix
- Lunch – chicken salad
- Dinner – low-fat cottage pie or spaghetti bolognese
- Snacks – fruit
- Drinks – water
Gemma signed up to Slimming World and attended her first meeting in September 2023.
She completely overhauled her diet – swapping the junk food for homemade meals with low fat ingredients.
The weight started to fall away and in less than a year, she shed a whopping 7st 7lbs – and dropped to 13st 1lb.
She found the confidence to refresh her wardrobe too – buying sundresses in a size 14.
“I’d always struggled with my knees but as soon as the weight came off, I was moving around more easily,” she said.
“I’m so happy with how far I’ve come and kids are all really proud of me too.
“If anyone is thinking of signing up to Slimming World – I say ‘do it’.
“Don’t be afraid to take that first step.
“As soon as you arrive at the meetings, you won’t regret it.
“It’s transformed my life.”