Louise Gough went from being out of breath on the dancefloor to chasing her little girl around the park with ease
One night out in Cardiff changed everything for Louise Gough(Image: Louise Gough)
It was supposed to be a fun night out in the Welsh capital celebrating her mother-in-law’s 60th birthday. But for 29-year-old Louise Gough the evening turned into a moment of shocking clarity – a turning point that would completely change her life.
Louise, a business owner from Caerphilly, was tipping the scales at 15st 8lbs. By that nigh, she was struggling in ways that could no longer be ignored.
She couldn’t bend down to tie her own shoelaces without losing her breath, leaving a friend to do it for her. She bought size 18 stretchy jeans for the occasion but they were painfully tight, forcing her to confront that she was actually closer to a size 20-22. And dancing? After just an hour she was sweating heavily and completely out of breath.
“I was in absolute denial about how big and unhealthy I was,” Louise recalled. “But I felt so ashamed of myself that night.”
The experience was a wake-up call. On the cusp of turning 30 and having lost her father David at just 52 Louise knew that change had to come – and fast.
Louise lost her father David very suddenly when he was just 52(Image: Louise Gough)
Her father, whom she describes as “the fittest man I had ever met,” had played rugby and walked their dog for hours every day yet died of a heart attack caused by clogged arteries and a poor diet.
Losing him left Louise depressed and she had spiralled, losing all interest in taking care of herself.
Louise knew that she had to make a change (Image: Louise Gough)
“That night in Cardiff, I realised I couldn’t keep going the way I had been,” she said.
“On my 29th birthday I understood that if I passed away at the same age as my dad I’d only have 23 short years [left].
“I was petrified of something similar happening to me.” Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here.
The mum-of-one started attending the gym regularly(Image: Louise Gough)
The very next morning Louise vowed to make a change. She focused on her nutrition first, calculating calories and macronutrients to maintain a deficit while getting enough protein.
She ate 1,800 calories a day and aimed for 8,000-10,000 steps daily.
Since her change in lifestyle, she is now a size eight(Image: Louise Gough)
Within three months she had shed two and a half stone. Energised by her early success she joined a gym, started training daily, and took up running.
She hasn’t had alcohol or eaten a takeaway since that night in October 2024.
Louise admitted that she struggled to tie her shoelace and dance for a long period of time(Image: Louise Gough)
A year later the results were dramatic.
Louise has officially dropped six stone, now weighing 9st 6lbs and fitting into a size eight.
Her energy levels are higher than they’ve ever been – even compared to her teens.
A year on and the difference is outstanding(Image: Louise Gough)
She can run around with her five-year-old daughter, tackle slides at the park, and enjoy soft play without exhaustion.
Louise has never felt better since committing to a healthy diet(Image: Louise Gough)
“Life has changed drastically for me since losing weight,” she said. “I’ve gone from bingeing on the sofa to training for half marathons.
“Shopping is enjoyable because I feel confident in most clothes. I absolutely love the way I look now.
“My skin has never been better, my hair is thicker and shinier, and I don’t crave rubbish food at all anymore – my body really craves nutrition.”
Louise’s change in diet has also had an impact on her skin and hair(Image: Louise Gough)
Louise follows the 80/20 rule with 80% of her diet coming from nutritious whole foods and 20% from occasional treats like dark chocolate or a Freddo. Her diet before her transformation had been a stark contrast to her current regime.
Before:
Breakfast/Lunch: Large Costa caramel coffee and a sausage sandwichDinner: Chinese/Indian/Domino’s takeawaysSnacks: Muffins, packets of crisps
Now:
Breakfast: Greek yoghurt and fruitLunch: ChickenDinner: Steak/chicken with vegetablesSnacks: Dark chocolate or a Freddo
Louise sticks to a routine diet(Image: Louise Gough)
“I’m so proud of myself for turning my life around,” Louise added. “I feel healthy and energised every single day.
“I’ve hopefully reversed some of the damage I’d done before and, most importantly, I get to spend extra time with my daughter.”