The beginning of lockdown didn’t start with a flurry of food and drink for Kirstie Logan, like it did for most – in fact, quite the opposite. Kirstie, 31 from Plasmarl started March, 2020, tipping the scales at 17st 4lb and with a nasty bout of Covid-19.
“I had to admit myself to hospital, and I stayed there for four days,” Kirstie recalled.
“The doctors gave me a big warning, they told me that I was on the verge of diabetes and that if I didnât start to look after my health, I would likely end up with diabetes & other obesity-related conditions.
” I was diagnosed with hypertension and high cholesterol that used to make me feel sick & dizzy. Ironically â my dad also suffered with the same and here I was, potentially about to go down the same path.”
Read more : McDonald’s-loving dad shares before and after pictures of nine stone weight loss
Kirstie Logan before her seven stone weightloss
(Image: Kirstie Logan)
She was warned she was on the verge of diabetes
(Image: Kirstie Logan)
Kirstie’s father passed away suddenly in 2015, a life event that she believed was the trigger for binge eating.
“I gained seven stone after he died. He was found in a bad way, and his death left me bereft and I developed a serious binge eating disorder,” Kirstie said.
“In my grief I became unable to make logical decisions and would abuse my body because I didnât know how to process what had happened.
“I was haunted with nightmares about his post-mortem, his decomposing body, and in my waking life I became unable to rationalise or control even the smallest things in my life â which started with my diet.”
Kirstie believes her dad’s death was the trigger for her weight gain
(Image: Kirstie Logan)
She started binge eating
(Image: Kirstie Logan)
A typical day for Kirstie would begin with a McDonald’s breakfast consisting of two double sausage egg McMuffin meals with two drinks. On particularly bad days this number would often rise to three or four meals. Lunch would be a pizza and three or four curries at the office. Dinner would be a McDonald’s again – two large McChicken sandwich meals, 2 mayo chickens and extra chips.
When McDonald’s wasn’t an option she would order from Deliveroo three times a day with enough food to feed four people.
“In 2019 alone I spent ÂŁ1,000 on McDonald’s,” Kirstie admitted.
“After contracting coronavirus in March, 2020 it left me feeling grateful for life and realising that so many people werenât so lucky. I set out on a mission to lose the weight and reclaim my life.
This is what Kirstie looks like now
(Image: Kirstie Logan)
“I have now lost 7 stone, I’m 10st 4lb, and from changing my lifestyle I have qualified for the final of Ms Great Britain.”
Kirstie started on her weight-loss journey by walking up and down the Swansea hills every day. After six months of walking, she weighed herself for the first time and saw a three stone weight-loss. She then joined a gym when they re-opened.
Kirstie is trying to use her beauty pageant platform to increase awareness around binge eating disorder.
Kirstie Logan in her Ms Great Britain finalist sash
(Image: Kirstie Logan)
“I have been working with the charity BEAT who have supplied me with some really helpful resources. I want to de-stigmatise binge eating disorder and show that recovery is possible whilst shining a light on the obesity crisis in the UK.
“If I win, I will spend my year dedicating time to helping those who have suffered with not only binge eating disorder, but other types of serious eating disorders too.
” I am firmly against the âextreme body positivityâ movement. There is a huge difference between being a curvaceous and healthy size 16-18 â which I think is normal, and being morbidly obese at a size 26″
Kirstie wants to help others with serious eating disorders
(Image: Kirstie Logan)
A typ ical day for Kirstie now involves going to the gym at 6am most mornings before breakfast to do some fasted cardio and strength training. Breakfast is usually two medium eggs whisked with ham and steak seasoning, then for lunch some marinated chicken with courgette, spinach and peas. Then for dinner she will have some salmon or chicken with some oven baked carrots.
“I don’t feel I restrict my diet at all though,” Kirstie said.
“If I fancy fish and chips, I just make sure I control the portion size and go for a short walk.”
Kirstie is the only contestant from Wales in the Ms GB final, and the final takes place on September 17.
Those looking for help in relation to binge eating disorder can visit BEATâs dedicated online support group Nightingale which offers support and guidance for those impacted by the condition.
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