'My screensaver helped me lose SEVEN STONE': Woman addicted to takeaways set her phone to show unflattering image... then promptly stopped dialling out for pizzas

  • Chelsea Stevens, 25, piled on weight eating crusty bread and takeaways 
  • At a size 24, Chelsea decided she had to stop her fast food addiction
  • The mother-of-one from Birmingham used image she hated as incentive 
  • Has also used meal replacement milkshakes to shed seven stones

A slimmer who once weighed in at 20-stone has revealed the secret to her weight-loss success... using an unflattering image of herself as her smartphone screensaver.

Chelsea Stevens, 25, from Yardley, Birmingham, uploaded a photograph of herself that she didn't like as an incentive to stop herself calling for takeaways - and lost seven stone. 

The fast-food fan says that gorging on pizza and fried chicken had been her downfall and she was determined to fat-shame herself into slimming down. 

Mobile incentive: Chelsea Stevens, 25, from Yardley, Birmingham shed seven stone in weight after uploading an image she hated as her smartphone screensaver

Mobile incentive: Chelsea Stevens, 25, from Yardley, Birmingham shed seven stone in weight after uploading an image she hated as her smartphone screensaver

The image that Chelsea detested: The slimmer was motivated to lose weight everytime she checked her phone...and was no longer tempted to call for a take-out (Pictured: Chelsea with her son Aries)

The image that Chelsea detested: The slimmer was motivated to lose weight everytime she checked her phone...and was no longer tempted to call for a take-out (Pictured: Chelsea with her son Aries)

Now a slim size 14, Chelsea is enjoying showing off her new figure in glamourous outfits

Now a slim size 14, Chelsea is enjoying showing off her new figure in glamourous outfits

She had piled on the pounds after giving birth to her son, Aries, now three, but wanted to be a healthy and active parent.

In October 2013, Chelsea took the brutally honest photo revealing her size 24 stomach and set it as her mobile phone screensaver to encourage her to give up her favourite unhealthy snacks.

Every time she craved high-fat foods she would look at the picture as a deterrent.

The college student also started the Cambridge Weight Plan, which replaces meals with milkshakes, and has since dropped to 13 stone.

Chelsea, now a slim size 14, said: 'I loved eating fast food every day and I was addicted to crusty bread smothered in butter but didn't realise how fat I was until it was too late. 

Bye bye bread: The weight began to drop off after Chelsea ditched the fast food and her beloved crusty loaf, which she'd lather in butter

Bye bye bread: The weight began to drop off after Chelsea ditched the fast food and her beloved crusty loaf, which she'd lather in butter

After giving birth to her son, the pounds piled on...but now Chelsea is determined to stay slim 

She explains: 'I'd get food delivered straight to my doorstep so I wouldn't even need to leave the house. 

'I'd look at myself in the mirror and feel disgusted with what I saw but I couldn't help but eat huge portions.

'When I posed up for the fat-shaming picture I made sure my top was tied-up and that I could see how fat I was.'

'I knew that looking at such a disgusting picture of myself every time I picked up my phone would stop me from ordering takeaways and give me the courage to lose weight.'

Now, Chelsea says that although she's found it hard at times to stick to her healthier diet, that photo still inspires her not to reach for the biscuit tin.

She says that some of her friends even cried when they saw her glamourous transformation.  

Chelsea's weight loss mission started in October 2013 after she was asked to move to a large seat on a rollercoaster. The embarrassment of being too big for a normal seat made her realise that she needed to go on a diet after weighing in at 20 stone.

A pivotal moment: Chelsea says that being asked to move to a bigger seat while on a rollercoaster ride was the point she knew her weight gain was making her unhappy 

A pivotal moment: Chelsea says that being asked to move to a bigger seat while on a rollercoaster ride was the point she knew her weight gain was making her unhappy 

Slimmer...and more energetic: The mum-of-one, pictured with son Aries, 3, says she now has more zest for life 

Slimmer...and more energetic: The mum-of-one, pictured with son Aries, 3, says she now has more zest for life 

Check out those cheekbones! Chelsea say her transformation has been so dramatic, it's moved some of her friends to tears

Check out those cheekbones! Chelsea say her transformation has been so dramatic, it's moved some of her friends to tears

She said: 'When I received a tap on the shoulder asking me to move to a larger seat I was really horrified.

'Rollercoasters are one of my favourite things and so the thought of not being able to fit into the seat really shocked me.

'I knew I was overweight but I accepted that was what happened when you became a mum. 

Chelsea says she tried using a fitness DVD to lose weight but then borrowed money off a family member to start the Cambridge Weight Plan...and lost two stone in six weeks.

Using the picture on her phone as encouragement, she lost another five-stone and is now happy at her current weight of 13stone with a healthy BMI of 24.

She said: 'I feel amazing being a slim young mum, I can be more active with my son and feel so much more confident.

'Before I used to be really moody but I am so much more positive now and feel like a much better mum to Aries.

She adds: 'I'm so glad that I took that picture otherwise I'd still be overweight and unhappy.'


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