Mother who spent £4,000 a year on takeaways and felt ‘horrible’ about herself drops five dress sizes to become a competitive bodybuilder
- Helen Buchanan, from Scotland, ditched her expensive fast food habit and is now competing in body building competitions and inspiring her daughter
- Read More: ‘I lost 100 POUNDS in just one year without ever going to the gym’
A mum who spent £4,000 a year gorging on nightly takeaways dropped four stone in six months and is now a competitive bodybuilder.
Helen Buchanan, 40, from Scotland, used to eat takeaways and junk food every night, spending at least £80 a week, which left her tipping the scales at 13 stone and wearing a size 18.
Fed up with how she looked and felt, and wanting to set a good example to her daughter, Elliemae, 13, the mum-of-one decided to start making some changes.
Starting small, Helen joined a gym and began swapping her junk food for healthy home-cooked meals.
Beating her cravings for greasy food and falling in love with exercising, the weight slowly began falling off Helen and she gained the confidence to follow her dream of becoming a bodybuilder.
The proud mum is now a trim 6/8 and loves exercise so much that she competes as a bodybuilder – pictured here with her daughter Elliemae
Helen Buchanan, from Scotland, used to eat takeaways and junk food every night, spending at least £80 a week, which left her tipping the scales at 13 stone and wearing a size 18
Helen always dreamed of becoming a bodybuilder and has stunned her friends and family by reaching her goal despite a sad death in family
Opening up about her eating habits, Helen, from Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, said: ‘I was really down for about five years. I just didn’t really care about myself.
‘I would eat a load of Chinese, pizza, chocolate most nights, greasy food.
‘Mentally and physically, I felt horrible about myself. I wasn’t in a good place, and I felt uncomfortable.
‘When the weight came off, it felt amazing. It was nice to see my body change and muscle appear.
‘It almost doesn’t feel real. It has totally changed my life.’
Helen decided to push herself to shift the weight in January 2023 but almost came undone when her aunt, Frances, 68, died of cancer on Mother’s Day in March.
She said: ‘The hardest part was when my aunt, who I was close with, died on Mother’s Day and I had to just push through and do it for her.’
Helen’s diet before
Breakfast: French toast
Lunch: Sausage rolls
Dinner: Chippy, Chinese or takeaway kebab
Snacks: Ice cream and chocolate
Helen’s diet now
Breakfast: Protein shake, Rice Krispies Square and a banana
Lunch: Pitta bread and chicken
Dinner: Chicken, Philadelphia cheese, Cajun seasoning, peppers,
Snacks: Protein yoghurts, berries
After hitting the gym, Helen remembered her dream of becoming a bodybuilder – after finding a love for the competitions while watching them on TV.
She said: ‘I used to walk and run with an old friend, and then I found a girl called Adele who is now my coach.
‘I started in the gym, told her about my dream and in January I was training for my first ever show.
‘I had to cut out chocolate, dairy, a lot of socialising. I had to really focus on the gym and my goal.’
Now Helen follows a strict regime – spending three-and-half hours a day in the gym and following a diet of protein shakes and healthy food.
Helen competed in her first competition on June 11, 2023, and is looking to compete in more next year.
In a special full-circle moment, Helen first visited the venue she competed at 10 years ago – and dreamed then she would be up on the stage.
She said: ‘I remember seeing them and thinking I’m going to do that.
‘That’s going to be me.
‘I told my friends I would be up there and they said ‘aye OK’ but I got there in 10 years – and I want to compete next year too.
‘On June 11 I had my competition. I have always wanted to do one before I turned 40, which I did. My birthday was June 30. I felt amazing.’
Helen has seen a huge transformation in herself and in her daughter.
She said: ‘My daughter has come in leaps and bounds in the last six months. She watches what I do, and she is proud of me.
Helen really wanted to compete in a competition before she turned 40 and she achieved that goal this year
Helen says one of the best bits about losing weight and getting into exercise is that she is inspiring her daughter
Helen reckons she spent £4k a year on takeaways, adding: ‘I would eat a load of Chinese, pizza, chocolate most nights, greasy food. ‘Mentally and physically, I felt horrible about myself. I wasn’t in a good place, and I felt uncomfortable’
‘I think it helps children to see their parents doing good. You’re showing them how to do better for them as well.’
A huge advocate for bodybuilding, she pledges for other women wanting to get into to the sport to seize the chance.
Helen said: ‘It has taught me to love myself more, that I can do anything and that I can help inspire others.
‘I didn’t win a place, but getting up there made me feel great, I won for myself, I really did.’
‘We all have our ups and downs, but it is how you deal with it. I feel more confident than I ever have. I definitely recommend it.’
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