Mum shed 4st ‘almost immediately' after simple tweak when ‘vicious cycle' saw her spiral to 18st
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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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Kyra Dawson, 31, before her weight loss
Credit: SWNS
13
A self-confessed 'party girl', Kyra would go out almost nightly and order takeaways to cope with hangovers
Credit: SWNS
13
The mum gave up drinking and started seeing results immediately
Credit: SWNS
13
She credits her son Reo with saving her life
Credit: SWNS
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."
13
Kyra started drinking at age 15, having been through a difficult childhood
Credit: SWNS
13
Kyra during her weight loss
Credit: SWNS
13
She quite drinking in 2020 but the turning point came when she found out she was pregnant with her son
Credit: SWNS
13
Kyra shed nine stone with the help of diet and exercise
Credit: SWNS
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.
Kyra's diet before and after her weight loss
Previously eating up to five takeaways a day, Kyra overhauled her diet to lose weight. She cut out alcohol and switched to more nutritious meals.
Diet before weight loss
Breakfast - Full-English breakfast or leftovers
Lunch - Takeaways like kebab or fried chicken
Dinner - Takeaway pizza, burger or fish and chips
Snacks - sausage rolls, wine, prosecco, vodka
Diet after weight loss
Breakfast - Yogurt, fruit, toast
Lunch - chicken salad
Dinner - protein like chicken or fish, vegetables and rice
Snacks - fruit, hummus and veggies
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."
13
Kyra wanted to offer Reo a better childhood
Credit: SWNS
13
She hopes to help others by sharing her story
Credit: SWNS
13
She also found joy in dancing, describing it as therapy
Credit: SWNS
'Reo 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."
13
Kyra urged others needing support with alcohol to go to AA
Credit: SWNS
13
She can't believe how far she's come
Credit: SWNS
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Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Mum shed 4st ‘almost immediately' after simple tweak when ‘vicious cycle' saw her spiral to 18st
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 13 Kyra Dawson, 31, before her weight loss Credit: SWNS 13 A self-confessed 'party girl', Kyra would go out almost nightly and order takeaways to cope with hangovers Credit: SWNS 13 The mum gave up drinking and started seeing results immediately Credit: SWNS 13 She credits her son Reo with saving her life Credit: SWNS 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." 13 Kyra started drinking at age 15, having been through a difficult childhood Credit: SWNS 13 Kyra during her weight loss Credit: SWNS 13 She quite drinking in 2020 but the turning point came when she found out she was pregnant with her son Credit: SWNS 13 Kyra shed nine stone with the help of diet and exercise Credit: SWNS 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. Kyra's diet before and after her weight loss Previously eating up to five takeaways a day, Kyra overhauled her diet to lose weight. She cut out alcohol and switched to more nutritious meals. Diet before weight loss Breakfast - Full-English breakfast or leftovers Lunch - Takeaways like kebab or fried chicken Dinner - Takeaway pizza, burger or fish and chips Snacks - sausage rolls, wine, prosecco, vodka Diet after weight loss Breakfast - Yogurt, fruit, toast Lunch - chicken salad Dinner - protein like chicken or fish, vegetables and rice Snacks - fruit, hummus and veggies 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." 13 Kyra wanted to offer Reo a better childhood Credit: SWNS 13 She hopes to help others by sharing her story Credit: SWNS 13 She also found joy in dancing, describing it as therapy Credit: SWNS 'Reo 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." 13 Kyra urged others needing support with alcohol to go to AA Credit: SWNS 13 She can't believe how far she's come Credit: SWNS
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