I lost 15st 4lbs after struggling to breathe and having to resort to daily FAT NAPS – here’s how I did it

WEIGHING 26st 11lb, Lisa Halls was once so embarrassed about her size 28 figure she would hide in photos, and suffered breathing difficulties and agonising back pain. “I didn’t walk, I waddled,” admits Lisa, 54, who was miserable before she shed almost 16 stone – spending £500 a month on cigarettes and snacks, feasting on four chocolate bars a day, two litres of Coca Cola and endless bags of crisps. Lisa is now a regular at the gym and her local riding stables Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd At her heaviest Lisa struggled to breathe Credit: Jam Press For the most part, Lisa, who is now a hairdresser, lost the weight by ditching cigarettes and grab-and-go snacks, with her unhealthy lifestyle causing her to gain weight. She says: “I really don’t think I would still be here if I carried on the way I was going. “I used to have fat naps in the afternoon because my body was so tired all the time. “I’m from Devon so I was brought up on cream teas and pasties, and I just can’t resist cheese and ham pastries, I’d eat three of those a day easily. “I’d be always snacking, grazing constantly. I’d start with three slices of toast slathered in butter and jam, and when I was working in an office by mid-morning I was flagging a bit so I’d buy chocolate and crisps from the vending machine. “Lunch was mounds of creamy pasta, then I’d stop for pastries at the petrol station on the way home before dinner of cheap fatty sausages, chips or nuggets. “I’d snack all evening and I was a binge drinker too.” But when Lisa, who lives in Southampton with husband Nick, 58, looked at family photos, she struggled to find herself – as she was always hiding in the back. She had battled with her weight since childhood, and was badly bullied for it at school, using her bubbly personality to hide how ashamed she really felt inside – until it became impossible to ignore. Her addiction to cigarettes and snacks were not only leaving her out of pocket, but they were severely damaging her health too. Over the years she had tried various diets including Weight Watchers and Slimming World, but she would always regain the pounds. Finally, in 2014, Lisa managed to finally break the cycle, after her mum had a cancer scare. Determined, Lisa quit smoking on her 40th birthday and began a healthy new lifestyle – shedding weight through strict calorie counting and a gruelling new exercise regime. Lisa said: “When I stopped walking and began driving everywhere instead because I was unable to breathe, I knew something had to change. “I was pretty disgusted when I stepped on the scales. I had tried most diets and just failed every time. “At one point, I did get help from the doctors and was put on pills, which did work, I lost six stone – but, over time, I put it back on – and more.” Lisa was left with loose skin and needed a tummy tuck Credit: Jam Press Lisa was guzzling two litres of Cola a day before she changed her diet Credit: Jam Press Lisa swapped the cheap processed foods, white bread and takeaways for high-protein and nutritious items such as lean meats and vegetables. In the first six months she had lost an impressive six stone, which gave her the confidence to join a gym. Now, she goes three times a week, does 15,000 steps every day and is also a keen horse rider. In total, Lisa lost 13st 5lbs in seven years. But left with a lot of loose skin – weighing approximately 12lbs – Lisa underwent a tummy tuck. Since she has a back condition and the skin was adding extra pressure, this was done for free on the NHS six years ago. In November 2025, she also underwent a £9,000 breast lift – but while she felt great on the outside, old feelings struggled to shift inside. She says: “I felt amazing. In all my life, I have never had a flat stomach before. “Overall, I felt really good. But as I looked in the mirror, I still saw myself as huge. Lisa fears she might have died unless she took drastic steps Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd As weight started to creep back on she used jabs Credit: Jam Press “I don’t see what others see. I was bullied at school for being fat and thick so I’ve always lacked confidence. “My confidence is building, but like anything, it takes time. “Old patterns from childhood are still there.” Lisa began to feel better until the menopause hit a couple of years ago and the weight started to creep back on. It was then that she tried weight loss jabs for the first time. Lisa says: “No matter what I did, I was getting heavier. So I decided to use jabs. “I did the hard bit by myself but it helped with food noise and stopped me thinking about food 24/7 – it’s a relief because I’ve had food noise my entire life. “It also helped with inflammation in my body; so it worked in other areas, not just with losing weight.” Lisa is still on a low dose of weight loss medication Credit: Jam Press Lisa, with husband Nick, was always exhausted when she was heavier Credit: Jam Press Lisa lost two stone using Wegovy, before switching to Mounjaro to lose a further two stone. Now, she sits at a trim 11st 7lbs, and is a healthy size 12-14. Even though Lisa still treats herself to a few crisps and a small amount of chocolate each day, she says it’s all about balance. While she believes the jabs should be more widely available, there are a few pieces of advice she hopes users keep in mind. She added “It should be used as a tool. Lisa is thrilled with her glam new look Credit: Jam Press Although she treats herself occasionally, Lisa sticks to calorie counting Credit: Jam Press “You still need to put the effort in, because if you don’t, you will not learn anything. “I’m still on a low dose but I don’t think of it as cheating, I’m using it as a tool. I’m still exercising and calorie counting, I make sure I get my protein in. “I don’t want to take pills or have gastric band surgery. “When you do come off the jabs – or pills – the weight will just go back on. “I used to hide behind food to make myself feel happy. But now, I’m always on the go – and there’s no more fat naps.”