Mother loses 5st in five MONTHS and reverses pre-diabetes on an NHS-approved plan that 'rewires' your bad eating habits - and she still enjoys chocolate, wine and takeaways!

• e-mail

An overweight mother has told how she lost more than 5st in five months and reversed her pre-diabetes while still enjoying takeaways and glasses of wine.

Lynne Gaskell, 54, from Lancashire, who tipped the scales at 21st 10lbs last year, was referred to a diet plan by her GP after health checks revealed she was pre-diabetic.

The mother-of-two signed up for the 12-week Second Nature programme, costing £35 to £60 a month, which focuses on 'rewiring' people's habits to live healthier lives, and claims she saw the weight 'just fall off.' 

Lynne, who is now 16st 7lbs, swapped fast food for making her own dishes from scratch using the plan's recipe book, which includes chocolate-covered desserts, muffins and curries. 

Every bespoke plan is calorie controlled, but nothing is off limits which Lynne says made it 'really easy' to stick to.

Lynne Gaskell, 54, from Lancashire, lost more than five stone in five months and reversed her pre-diabetes, while still enjoying takeaways and drinking glasses of wine. Pictured at her heaviest, weighing 21st 10lbs

The mother-of-two (pictured now) signed up for the 12-week Second Nature programme, which focuses on 'rewiring' people's habits to live healthier lives, and saw the weight 'just fall off'

Lynne, pictured at her home in Mossley following her impressive weight loss, shed five stone in five months

'I really don't feel as though I'm missing out on anything - and I've cooked things I wouldn't normally cook,' she said. The things we do like eating, we've found an alternative way of cooking them, or substituted it with something else.

'There's nothing you can't have as long as you have it in moderation or that you're very mindful that what you're having is a treat.

'On a Friday night, my husband and I will sometimes have a bottle of wine with our neighbours or we'll enjoy a takeaway - I will choose a healthier option though.'

Second Nature was set up by Chris Edson and Mike Gibbs — both former NHS advisors — to tackle Britain's obesity and type-2 diabetes epidemic.

The programme has so far amassed 30,000 users and is also being trialled by the NHS. 

Last year, weighing 21st 10lbs (pictured), Lynne was referred to a digital-focused diet plan by her GP after health checks revealed she was pre-diabetic

After signing up last July, Lynne received a set of 'smart' scales and an activity tracker that links with the app, allowing her to monitor her weight-loss progress and daily step count.

She was also sent a recipe book, a meal plan and daily motivational articles, and was added to an online peer support group - hosted by a qualified dietitian offering daily advice.

As well as reversing her risk of type-2 diabetes in just five months, Lynne said changing her lifestyle was important so she 'could be around for longer' to look after her autistic son Joshua, 21.

'My doctor did a full health MOT when I turned 50,' she explained. 'The results of the blood tests showed I was at risk of type 2 diabetes and they classed me as pre-diabetic. They said the best thing for me to do was to lose weight.

'I didn't want to join a gym or any of the slimming groups as they didn't appeal to me.

'My son Joshua is autistic and needs a lot of care. He was one of the reasons why it was important to become healthier.'

Lynne used to skip breakfast but swapped those bad habits for starting the day with a healthy muesli.  

She was also told no food group was off-limits, so when she felt like having a takeaway or a glass of wine, she could.

'I lost weight straight away. It's really easy to stick to and because I'm eating healthily, my husband, Lee, is too - he's lost 2st,' explained Lynne. 

Lynne also started walking every day, slowly at first, beginning with 3,500 steps, gradually increasing it to 10,000 over the duration of the 12-week programme.

'And you can't cheat because you're wearing a tracker, and the scales sync with the app - so it means there's no guesswork involved,' she said. 

Lynne said she feels happier, and that losing weight has helped ease the pain of the arthritis she has in her knee, and she has more energy than before. 

Lynne (pictured), who is now 16st 7lbs, swapped fast food for freshly cooked dishes that included chocolate-covered desserts, muffins and curries, making it 'really easy' to stick to

Pictured: Lynne at her home in Mossley after she lost an impressive five stone in five months

'I've just had my yearly check up and the results from my blood tests is perfect - my sugar levels are fine and I'm no longer at risk of type-2 diabetes,' Lynne added.

Lynne, who left her job in retail to look after her son Joshua full-time, also treated herself by buying a much-wanted dog as a reward.

'I've wanted a dog all my married life, but my husband always used to say that I would never walk it or take care of it,' she said. 'But after I'd lost a couple of stone, he agreed that I could get a puppy.' 

Lynne said changing her lifestyle was important so she 'could be around for longer' to look after her autistic son Joshua (pictured together at Edinburgh Castle)

'I have a beautiful chocolate labrador called Aubrey - she's 18 weeks now and she is taken for walks all the time. Having a dog helps me to get out at the weekend.

'My son is overweight too - because of his autism, he has a very restricted diet and we have to stick to very specific things. So it's been great for us to take the dog out together for a couple of hours.

'I'm now much more active with him over the weekends. But life hasn't hugely changed - which is a good thing. It just means I have the peace of mind of knowing I will be around for a lot longer for Josh - and be healthier around him.'