Size 22 woman shamed into losing NINE STONE after being asked if she was 'pregnant or just fat' while on holiday in Greece

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Gaynor, 34, from Halifax, used to be 17-and-a-half-stone and dress size 22
One holiday in Greece, she was asked if she was 'pregnant or just fat'
So mortified she realised she needed to change her ways
Ditched unhealthy diet of takeaways and fry ups
Started going to the gym - as early as 4am to fit in with shifts at work
Now she's eight-and-a-half-stone and a dress size 12
Planning 67-mile walk to raise money for charity

Published: 03:04 EST, 16 July 2015 | Updated: 03:42 EST, 16 July 2015

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A woman who was body-shamed on holiday by a fellow British tourist said the hurtful comment prompted her to overhaul her lifestyle and lose nine stone.

Gaynor Thompson, 34, from Halifax, weighed 17-and-a-half-stone and was a dress size 22 when she went to Greece in 2012.

While there, another holidaymaker approached her and asked if she 'was pregnant or just fat' - a cruel remark kick-started Gaynor's weight loss journey that saw her slim to eight-and-a-half-stone and a dress size 12.

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Gaynor weighed 17-and-a-half-stone and was a dress size 22 when she went to Greece in 2012, left. A cruel remark kick-started her weightloss journey and she's now eight-and-a-half-stone and a dress size 12, right

Gaynor, who works as a customer assistant in the retail department at Marks and Spencer, said she was hurt and mortified by the comment - but it wasn't the first time she had received such abuse.

'I had often had abuse from people in cars shouting "you fat so-and-so" out of their windows and laughing at me,' she said.

But she said it was the remark on holiday that gave her the incentive she needed to change her life.

She explains: 'Name calling from cars is something I could let go over my head, sticks and stones and all that ... I did not look in the mirror and look truly within myself.

'It was the way the person spoke to me on holiday in such a nasty way that made me look at myself and think "why do I look pregnant?"

'That and the way people were laughing about it made me realise I was fat. This is one of the moments I looked at myself and thought it would be great to look slimmer and toned.'

Gaynor's diet used to consist of a fry up for breakfast, chip butties or pizza for lunch and roast dinners and takeaways in the evening.

Gaynor piled on the pounds eating fry ups and takeaways, left, but has lost nine stone, right, after changing her diet and going to the gym regularly

She became trapped in a vicious circle of comfort eating because she hated her size, and didn't exercise because she felt too ashamed of figure.

'I used to enjoy swimming but stopped going as I felt self-conscious of my body and thought everybody would look at me, she said.

Her weight even started to get in the way of another of her favourite hobbies - supporting her local rugby league team the Bradford Bulls.

'I'm an avid fan but I did stop going to the games for a while because I couldn't fit through the turnstiles at the stadium,' she admitted.

She added that she hated seeing pictures of herself as she was 'totally disgusted and ashamed of what I saw. I had a huge fat face and fat arms and everything I saw was disgraceful.'

The weight fell off after Gaynor joined the gym. She would go at 4am to fit the exercise in around her job

The comment on her holiday in Greece finally gave her the motivation to change and she joined her local PureGym in Halifax in January 2014.

She started working out five times a week doing cardio and weight training around her shop shifts - discovering extra early morning workouts suited her better than evening ones.

She said: 'At first I was going to the the gym after work but after a long shift I was finding it difficult to go and put in 100 per cent. It was becoming a chore.

'This is when I decided to go to before work as PureGym is open 24 hours a day. I started going 4am.

'I began to feel fitter and I started doing the long distance training walks alongside my gym training.'

James Nuttall, Assistant General Manager at PureGym Halifax, said he was impressed by her dedication.

'It really is fantastic to see someone come to the gym with a goal and stick to it. It just goes to show if you put your mind to it, anything is achievable. We are very impressed with the results that Gaynor has achieved and hopefully she will continue to inspire others,' he said.

Gaynor paired her new exercise regime with a healthy diet ditching the fry ups and takeaways for more fruit, vegetables and home-cooked dinners such as chicken with fish.

The shop worker said she feels happier and healthier now she's nine stone lighter, right, after she received abuse on holiday for her former size, left

As a result, she's dropped nine stone, five dress sizes and 12 inches off her waist - and has never felt better.

She said: 'I feel confident that not only will I live a better life, but also with my new lifestyle my life expectancy will hopefully increase.

'Being overweight does not mean you are a bad person, but I believe that living a healthy lifestyle can benefit you as a person in so many ways. Also, having the new lifestyle means that my thyroid problem has improved.'

Now she's fitter than she's ever been, she decided to set herself a physical challenge - and she's returning to Greece to do it.

Along with her friend Ben Moorhouse, 32, she will undertake a 67-mile walk over three days in August on Rhodes Island.

In preparation Gaynor has been regularly walking from Halifax to Skipton and back which is 48 miles.

The pair will be raising money (via www.justgiving.com/Ben-Moorhouse-Gaynor-Thompson) for the Steve Prescott Foundation, the charity set up in memory of the international rugby league player who died of cancer in 2013.

Gaynor said: 'The weight loss makes me very proud of what I have achieved. I am putting my new body and good health to good use by helping people who need help from The Steve Prescott Foundation by doing challenges from now on. The challenge in Rhodes is only the beginning.

'I have always liked walking, but when I was overweight there is no way I could have walked these distances. The furthest was probably to the Chinese takeaway!'

Once Gaynor said she could only walk to the Chinese takeaway, now she's planning to return to Greece for a 67-mile hike to raise money for charity

They are the first people to attempt the route on foot in the highest temperatures and humidity of the year.

Gaynor said: 'I think the heat will provide the biggest test. That’s not something we can really prepare for here in Halifax!'

Alex Chicken, secretary of the Steve Prescott Foundation said: 'The Steve Prescott Foundation is extremely proud that Gaynor has been inspired to undertake such a unique and exciting challenge.

'It's great to know that the adversity Steve Prescott endured during his illness is an inspiration to Gaynor. Her dedication to lose weight and get fit as she prepares for the walk in Rhodes in August is testament to her determination.'

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