Mum who binge-ate after brother’s sudden death loses almost half her body weight

Champion bodybuilder Andrew Humphreys looked the epitome of physical fitness and his dedication won him the title of Mr Wales a total of three times.

When he died suddenly from a heart attack in 2000 it not only sent shockwaves through the sport but it also sent his sister Lee-Anne on a self-destructive course of binge eating.

But becoming a mum finally saw her break her habit and shed almost half her body weight.

Read more: 26-stone dad sheds half his body weight after dumping the burger van at work

“I’d always struggled with my weight and had been a bit of a yo-yo dieter,” said the 46-year-old from Morriston in Swansea. “But losing Andrew was when my problems really began.”

The Royal Mail worker added she would eat excessively, causing her weight to balloon in excess of 20st at one point.

“You couldn’t even call it comfort eating because there was nothing comforting about it. It never made me feel better – it was more a kind of self-harm really.

“I’d already be hurting but would then eat more to make myself feel even worse. Sometimes I’d eat until I was sick.”

Lee-Anne said she stayed on that spiral until the birth of her daughter Eden three years ago.

“Her coming along really gave me the incentive to change because I’d be playing with her on the carpet and suddenly realise I couldn’t get back up.

“I’d struggle to stand because it felt like my knees were giving way and I’d get breathless climbing stairs.

“I just thought to myself: ‘Enough is enough’.”

So she confided in her friend – a personal trainer also called Lee-ann – and found out about the exercise studio, called Rad Fitness, she had built at her home.

“It was a revelation, to be honest,” said Lee-Anne.

“Much less intimidating than being at the gym. Because there’s nothing worse than feeling heavy and having the sense that others around you are staring.

“Lee-ann gave me a diet to follow and an exercise regime which we worked hard at a few times a week.

“I was nearly 19st when we started and now I’m down to 10 and half.

“It’s not been easy, I won’t lie. But it’s like I’ve been given a new lease of life and I know Andrew would be proud of me.”

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