Mum shed 4st ‘almost immediately' after simple tweak when ‘vicious cycle' saw her spiral to 18st
Published: Invalid Date,
A MUM trapped in a "vicious cycle" that saw her reach 18 stone saw four stone drop off her after kicking a key habit.
Kyra Dawson, 31, was a self-confessed "party girl" throughout her teens and would go out "nearly every night" in her 20s.
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She could easily guzzle down two bottles of prosecco and wine each time - followed by a full bottle of vodka and shots at the club.
While hungover, Kyra would order up to five takeaways - including a full-English for breakfast, a kebab for lunch, a Chinese takeaway for dinner, and snacks like Gregg's sausages rolls - before starting the cycle again.
At her biggest, she tipped the scales at 18st 5lbs and was struggling to squeeze into a size 18.
Kyra confessed that her drinking "spiralled" out of control and knew she a "problem" when she hid her heavy boozing from adoptive mum, Marie Dawson.
In 2021, she discovered she was pregnant with her son, Reo, now three, and said his arrival "saved" her life.
The mum-of-one credits her weight loss to ditching booze, saying she started shifting the weight after becoming sober.
She lost a total of nine stone and dropped down to 9st 10lbs, now wearing a size 8 to 10.
Kyra, a beauty therapist, from Loughton, Essex, said: "There is so much sugar in alcohol - as soon as I stopped drinking I lost about four stone.
"I really hit rock bottom and knew I had to change.
"I was determined to lose weight and look after myself.
I'm a mum of two, did drugs, drank wine everynight and didn't think I had an issue - it wasn't until a night at my parents which made me realise I was a functioning alcoholic
"My little boy saved my life.
"He gave me something to live for and I promised I would be everything he needed.
"At my worst, I was ordering five takeaways a day while hungover.
"I would eat all day and then start drinking in the evening - and repeat the cycle."
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Drinking to cope
Kyra grew up in foster homes, before being adopted at the age of 10 by her mum, Marie.
She admitted being a "difficult" teenager and using to alcohol to cope.
Kyra said: "I had a tough childhood before being adopted.
"As a teen, I was rebelling against the world. I started drinking aged 15.
"I didn't know I had a problem, I thought I just liked going out and partying.
"But all of my friends were drinking alco-pops, and I was having vodka."
While hungover, Kyra would order up several takeaways a day including donor kebabs, fish and chips, pizzas and burgers.
By the time the evening rolled around, she would go back out with friends and start binge drinking again.
Tragedy struck in 2018 when Kyra sadly lost her adoptive mum, Marie, after she developed sepsis while undergoing chemotherapy.
Kyra said: "I looked after her and I had to make up her medicine.
"It feels unreal, thinking about that time.
"I lost her the day after my birthday, very suddenly, she died in my arms.
"It was so painful and made things worse.
"I partied more, and when I wasn't drinking, I was ordering takeaways and eating junk food.
"I battled suicidal thoughts and even attempts after losing her.
"Anything to help me cope with the loss."
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'Son saved my life'
Around August 2020, Kyra met her ex-partner and made the decision to quit-drinking and to start eating more healthily.
The real turning point came in February 2021, when Kyra found out she was expecting her first child, her son, Reo.
She said: "I'm not with my ex-partner anymore, but we're still on good terms.
"I was five months sober when I found out I was expecting my son.
"I got pregnant quickly and it really shocked me.
"My little boy arriving saved my life.
"I wanted to do better for him - make sure he didn't have the childhood I did."
I found dancing and moving my body a great way to lose weight, and help my mental health
Kyra
Kyra completely overhauled her diet and started eating more nutritious meals, putting herself in a calorie deficit.
She got herself a gym membership and started going on long walks to help shift some weight, walking up to 10k steps a day.
Kyra also credits "dancing everywhere" to her weight loss, and she started making TikTok videos of her busting a move on her account.
She said: "There was so many calories in alcohol - especially wine and prosecco. As soon as I stopped drinking, the weight fell off.
"Then I ditched the obsession with wanting to eat hungover all the time.
"I loved dancing - music really helped me too. Dancing is like therapy and music was an escape. It got me through some dark situations.
"I found dancing and moving my body a great way to lose weight, and help my mental health."
The NHS 12-step plan to help you lose weight
FROM faddy diets to dodgy detoxes - most of us have heard it all before when it comes to weight loss.
But burning fat can be easy and mostly free.
In fact, the NHS has a whole load of medically-approved tips for weight loss and shedding body fat once and for all...
Don't skip breakfast
Skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight. You could miss out on essential nutrients and you may end up snacking more throughout the day because you feel hungry.
Eat regular meals
Eating at regular times during the day helps burn calories at a faster rate. It also reduces the temptation to snack on foods high in fat and sugar.
Eat plenty of fruit and veg
Fruit and veg are low in calories and fat, and high in fibre – 3 essential ingredients for successful weight loss. They also contain plenty of vitamins and minerals.
Get more active
Being active is key to losing weight and keeping it off. As well as providing lots of health benefits, exercise can help burn off the excess calories you cannot lose through diet alone.
Drink lots of water
People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. You can end up consuming extra calories when a glass of water is really what you need.
Eat high fibre foods
Foods containing lots of fibre can help keep you feeling full, which is perfect for losing weight. Fibre is only found in food from plants, such as fruit and veg, oats, wholegrain bread, brown rice and pasta, and beans, peas and lentils.
Read food labels
Knowing how to read food labels can help you choose healthier options. Use the calorie information to work out how a particular food fits into your daily calorie allowance on the weight loss plan.
Use a smaller plate
Using smaller plates can help you eat smaller portions. By using smaller plates and bowls, you may be able to gradually get used to eating smaller portions without going hungry. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain it's full, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full.
Don't ban foods
Do not ban any foods from your weight loss plan, especially the ones you like. Banning foods will only make you crave them more. There's no reason you cannot enjoy the occasional treat as long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance.
Don't stock junk food
To avoid temptation, do not stock junk food – such as chocolate, biscuits, crisps and sweet fizzy drinks – at home. Instead, opt for healthy snacks, such as fruit, unsalted rice cakes, oat cakes, unsalted or unsweetened popcorn, and fruit juice.
Cut down on alcohol
A standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate. Over time, drinking too much can easily contribute to weight gain.
Plan your meals
Try to plan your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the week, making sure you stick to your calorie allowance. You may find it helpful to make a weekly shopping list.
By 2024, Kyra had dropped a whopping nine stone and is now down to 9st 10lbs.
She said: "With recovery, it's so important to get into AA.
"It's very hard to quit by yourself and I've had huge support from that.
"I can't believe how far I've come looking back.
"I love talking to people and helping them anyway I can.
"Hopefully anyone reading my story will take something positive away from it.
"You can turn things around with the right support."
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What to do if you think are an alcoholic
IF you're struggling with alcohol addiction, the most important thing is to recognise the problem and seek support - You don't have to face it alone.
Seek Professional Help
GP or Doctor – A medical professional can assess your situation and provide advice on treatment options.
Therapists or Counsellors – Talking to an addiction specialist can help address underlying causes and develop coping strategies.
Rehab or Detox Programmes – If physical dependence is severe, medically supervised detox may be necessary.
Consider Support Groups
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – A well-known 12-step programme that provides peer support.
SMART Recovery – A science-based alternative to AA, focusing on self-empowerment.
Local Support Groups – Many communities have groups tailored to different needs.
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