Wirral mum called ‘The Ugly Girl’ at college loses 6 ½ stones and finally loves herself

A Wirral mum branded one of ‘The Ugly Girls’ at college has undergone a huge transformation to lose 6 ½ stones and feel ‘happier and healthier’.

Wirral mum Kayleigh Vaughan, 38, from Eastham, has gone from a size 24 to a size 10 and says: “Having lost the weight I’m definitely happier than I’ve been in a long time, and healthier than I have ever been.

“I’m more confident, more active – and I feel like I’m a much better mum for my children.

“I believe in myself – and I like myself.”

The former graphic designer admits it used to ‘sting’ when she and her friend were called The Ugly Girls on campus: “But at the time I just shrugged it off and accepted it.

“We were goths, so we looked a little bit different – and I was ‘the fat one’ at that!

“I didn’t even consider losing weight because what was the point? I’d be thin – but I’d still be ‘ugly’.”

Kayleigh says she’d never been the skinny one at school.

“I wasn’t obese, but I was always bigger than my friends,” she says. “And I just started to put more and more weight on. I was probably about 11st when I was at college and that quickly became 13st.”

When Kayleigh lost her mum in 2019, that soared to almost 19st – not ideal for her petite 5ft 5in frame.

“Me and my mum were very close. It was just me and her from when I was five and she was my best friend.

“When she died, I was devastated.

“I’d just had my son, Eddie, who’s now seven, and his and my mum’s birthdays were a day apart; and she adored him. She came over to see us every day and it was one of the happiest times of my life.

“Eddie was one when mum died. She was diagnosed with lung cancer which had already spread to her bones in the March and having been initially told she had about two years, mum died three months later.

“After she was gone I lost all interest in life. I stopped caring. It didn’t help that the first anniversary of her death coincided with lockdown – so we were closed in too.

“I’d just moved to Wirral where my husband, Sam, is from, so I didn’t have many friends (I have lots of lovely ones now) so I ate when I was sad. I ate when I was bored.  I was literally eating every emotion.

“I’d eat throughout the day, and my weakness was cereal like Coco Pops and Frosties which I’ve always loved – even my husband jokingly called me Kayleigh Two Bowls because I’d never have just one – and chocolate.  I’ve got a very sweet tooth.

“I’d often have a big bar of Galaxy in the evening – and when it was Easter me and Sam would often have an Easter egg each EVERY night after dinner.” 

Kayleigh – who now also has a daughter, Sadie, two – had tried Slimming World before: “I’d always lost a couple of stones before and thought I could leave and do it on my own, so I’d put all the weight back on.

“I realised I needed to do something for the kids, who are the light of my life. 

“The moment I went in, something clicked. The consultant said that even if I only lost one pound a week, that was 52lbs in a year – and I thought yeah, that’s significant.  As it is, I’ve lost 91 in just over a year!”

Breakfast now is Greek yoghurt with banana, wholefood peanut butter and chia seeds, and lunch is often a salad or an omelette.

“And there are some lovely Slimming World meals for dinner, like chicken and spinach curry, which is a favourite of mine, with boiled rice,” smiles Kayleigh.

“If I snack it will be a banana or boiled eggs; and to satisfy my sweet tooth I’ll have an Options hot chocolate drink or a little Freddo bar.”

Kayleigh, who gave up work to look after her children – Eddie is AUDHD, the co-occurrence of autism spectrum Condition (ASC) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with high-learning potential (‘he’s a little maths genius’) – now weighs just 12st 2lb.

She says: “It took me a long time to buy clothes because I kept thinking of myself as big. I’d take my old size ‘something’ into the changing room because I still thought of myself as plus size. I’d go in and then have to go back out about three times to get a size smaller!

“I’m much more colourful in my clothes choice now which reflects my personality better.

“I go for long walks with my son every day and we set challenges, which is a great bonding time for us. Instead of driving to the shops I walk, and I’ve started lifting weights in the gym which I love – so that’s my Body Magic bit. I’ve even got guns!” laughs Kayleigh.

“The Slimming World group I go to is great and I have never felt more cared for and accepted. They’ve become like family to me.

“And while mum supported and encouraged me in everything I did anyway, I know she would have been so proud of me now, and so glad I’ve found such lovely people to support me in her absence.”

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