TIPPING the scales at 20 stone and squeezing herself into a size 22, self-confessed food addict Claire Bierton was once beset with health problems.
But now the 36-year-old has transformed into a size 8 bodybuilding competitor who looks so different she has to defend herself against accusations she’s flewn to Turkey for weight-loss surgery.
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And she says she “did it all myself through hard work”.
At the height of her problem, Claire struggled with depression and low self-esteem, as well as gastrointestinal problems, fibromyalgia and difficulty walking.
The self-confessed food addict spent £70 on three Chinese takeaways a week, even tucking into the leftovers for breakfast.
Her weight spiralled out of control after having children and she turned to food as a comfort.
“My diet was terrible – I’m surprised I didn’t have diabetes,” she tells Sun Health.
“My local Chinese knew my order, I would over order so that I’d have enough for dinner and then breakfast the next day.
“I was so unhappy and became really ill, and I knew I needed to change, for the sake of my kids.”
It was during the Covid lockdown in 2020 that Claire, from Hatfield, Herts, says she “reached breaking point”.
Since losing weight, other mums at the school gate ask if she resorted to weight-loss surgery.
Claire, who is launching her own online coaching business, has slimmed down to a slender 10st 7lb and now wears a size 8-10.
“It was like a switch, one day I just decided that I had to change,” she says.
“It was hard, but it’s changed my life.
“It makes me emotional to think about how far I’ve come.”
‘Out of control’ eating
Growing up, Claire says she “never had issues” with food, but noticed the weight piling on after having her four kids, now aged 16, 15, 11 and nine.
She would indulge in weekly takeaways and cook herself a full English fry-up every morning “without fail”.
She would even wake-up in the middle of the night to binge on chocolate and crisps – calling her eating habits “out of control”.
Claire said: “The weight piled on and I barely recognised myself.
“I felt unhappy in my relationship and turned to food for comfort.
“My joints were agony and I could barely walk around.”
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‘I was in so much pain’
In December 2019, Claire ended up in hospital after suffering diarrhoea and extreme stomach pain.
Medics at Lister Hospital, Herts, grew concerned that the mum might have bowel disease.
But, doctors soon determined that her symptoms had been caused by her “poor diet”.
“I couldn’t stop going to the toilet and became so dehydrated I thought I was going to pass out,” says Claire.
“I was in so much pain and had to go to hospital, and I thought I might not see my kids again.”
Determined to change, for the sake of her children, Claire turned to exercise.
She bought an exercise bike and started to do YouTube workouts five times a week.
And she downloaded a fitness app to help her calculate the macronutrients she needed in her diet every day to lose weight.
“It was lockdown and all the gyms were closed, so I found a cheap exercise bike on eBay and started doing home workouts,” she says.
“I’d get up early before homeschooling the kids to do a workout.
“I knew that if I was going to lose weight, I’d also need to tone up the excess skin, so I ordered some weights and added them into my routine.”
‘I made a lot of sacrifices’
Once restrictions were lifted, the mum-of-four joined her local gym where she caught the exercise bug, and she now even competes as a bodybuilder.
Claire beat the bulge by turning her addiction to food into an addiction to exercise and healthy eating.
Claire adds: “If there’s any stress in my life, I go to the gym and it gives me peace.
“Some people said I was obsessed, and I lost friends because my whole lifestyle changed.
“I had to make a lot of sacrifices.
“But I’ve made lots of new friends at the gym and I’ve never felt better.”
How to lose weight safely
Losing weight should be a long-term commitment to healthier living, rather than any drastic measures.
The NHS tips – which can be adopted slowly – include:
- Get active for 150 minutes a week – you can break this up into shorter sessions
- Aim to get your 5 A Day – 80g of fresh, canned or frozen fruit or vegetables count as 1 portion
- Aim to lose 1 to 2lbs, or 0.5 to 1kg, a week
- Read food labels – products with more green colour coding than amber and red are often a healthier option
- Swap sugary drinks for water – if you do not like the taste, add slices of lemon or lime for flavour
- Cut down on food that’s high in sugar and fat – start by swapping sugary cereal for wholegrain alternatives
- Share your weight loss plan with someone you trust – they can help motivate you when you have a bad day
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Setting a good example
Claire has competed in eight bodybuilding competitions and is currently training for the PCA show in Watford in October 2025.
She is also using her experience to launch her new online coaching business Coached by Claire.
Claire said: “My eldest daughter came to my first show, and it was really emotional to have her there.
“She’s seen me go through a lot, not just the weight loss.
“I want to set a good example to my kids – we have better food in the house and they’re learning healthy eating habits.
“I’ve been studying nutrition and I’m going to be launching my own coaching business soon.
“I’ve met so many inspiring women, and now I want to use my story to help others.”
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