Meet the St Helens woman wearing a bikini for first time since she was 10 after losing more than 4st

St Helens health manager Ashlie O’Connor is celebrating this summer, by wearing a bikini for the first time since she was 10 after losing 4st 5lb.

Ashlie, 37, has more than halved her dress size from a size 18 to size 8 and dropped from 15st 1lb to 10st 10lb.

And she says:

“I’ve got about 10 bikinis, almost two for every day of my summer holiday and I can’t wait to get them on.

“Before I lost weight I’d walk around with a sarong on or a cover up, and even if I lay down to sunbathe I’d put a towel or a t-shirt over my belly to hide it.

“If I did take it off to get in the water, it’d be a 100m sprint to the sea so people didn’t notice me!”

Now, she adds:

“I won’t care if people look at me, because I’m proud of myself and what I’ve achieved.”

Ashlie, a clinical service manager for mental health services from Eccleston, says the weight started to creep on in her teens.

“I noticed it more when I went out with friends; I couldn’t wear the same types of outfits as they did, the bodycon dresses and cropped tops.

“Everyone shopped at Topshop which started at size 6 and stopped around size 14 (they got better) which I struggled to get into.”

Ashlie had had a normal diet growing up although she admits it changed slightly when her parents divorced when she was nine: “I’d split my time with my mum and my dad.

“Mum’s food was typical home cooking but my dad wasn’t the greatest cook so me and my sister would have McDonald’s at least twice a week. Of course we thought of it as a treat, but it wasn’t perfect and not what you’d want to give a child now.”

At around 19 Ashlie enrolled at a local gym and even got the help of a personal trainer, but her good intentions were short lived and college and, later uni, didn’t help.

“At college I followed my friends and what they did and ate – and we had a chippy right by college.

“I never had breakfast, so I’d be starving by 11am and I’d grab a bag of crisps and a breakfast bar.

“Then at lunchtime we’d go to the chippy and I’d have curry with half rice and half chips – EVERY DAY!

“Tea was always something like a hot pot with a pastry crust and dumplings or shepherd’s pie with buttery mash, and I always had supper – two pieces of white toast with loads of butter.

“I’d got to 15st by the time I was 21-22, and at 5ft 5in that wasn’t good. I’d never thought of myself as overweight or a ‘big girl’ until one night when I was out with friends and the Mica song ‘Big Girls You Are beautiful’ came on, and a guy came up to me singing it.

“I was mortified.”

In September 2023 Ashlie went to Mexico on a holiday of a lifetime with new partner of four years Dennis: “And instead of sharing loads of photos, I was vetting every picture and coming up with reasons why I didn’t want anyone to see it.

“We got to know another couple and we’d been out for a nice meal with them, and they said they’d take a picture of me near a fountain. I was ready for that photo – stomach sucked in, standing a certain way, and it still looked awful.

“I looked like Gywneth Paltrow in the fat suit in Shallow Hal! I looked swollen and unhealthy.”

Within weeks of getting home, Ashlie joined Slimming World and overhauled her high-fat diet with healthier options, and with the help of consultant Lisa Ascroft changed her lifestyle for good.

Nowadays she’ll have overnight oats for breakfast, and jacket potato with tuna and a side salad for lunch and tea might be homemade and healthy chicken kebabs with onions, peppers and mushrooms, served with a rocket salad or corn on the cob, and boiled rice. 

Ashlie says:

“I feel amazing and so much healthier. My BMI is down and my skin is glowing, and I’ve started doing Reformer Pilates which I love (before I lost weight I’d have been terrified of breaking the machines). 

“Slimming World’s helped me to make smarter choices.  I have never felt deprived.”

Ashlie grins: “Before when I was trying to lose weight, I kept all my clothes from sizes from 8 to 18, so it was like I was giving myself permission to put it all back on again.

“This time I’ve thrown out anything over a size 12, so if I put the weight back on I’ll be wearing a bin bag.

“But it’s not going to happen. I feel better than I ever have and I look better than ever – and this is me for good.”

* Ashlie goes to Lisa Ascroft’s Slimming World group at Sutton Cricket Club, New Street, St. Helens WA9 3UU. Lisa holds classes there on Thursdays at 8.30am and 10am, and 5pm and 6.45pm. Tel: 07789 991657.

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