As the Alton Towers security guards approached her, Michelle Stokes’ heart began to sink…. just like the boat beneath her.
The mother-of-four, 40, was in the CBeebies Land area of the Staffordshire theme park when her 23st 11.4lbs (334lb/151kg) bulk quite literally derailed the family’s happy day out.
She said: ‘It was a hot day and I was struggling to walk.
‘I knew I was over the weight limit but they let me onto the ride.
‘As we were going around, the back of the boat was sinking and struggling to get back on the ramps and carry on going around.
‘The ride operators had to stop it and help me get off.
‘I cried all the way home – I tried not to in front of the kids but it’s difficult not show emotion in front of them.’
A week later, she joined Slimming World and has gone on to shed 12st 4.5lbs and shrink down to a svelte 11st 7lbs and now fits into a size 12.
Michelle Stokes weighed 23st 11.4lbs at her heaviest
She went on to lose 12st 4.5lbs after joining her local Slimming World group
Ms Stokes, an occupational therapist, from Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, had struggled with her weight from her late teens onwards, and found keeping on top of her health near impossible once she became a mother.
She said: ‘I became a mum in my mid-twenties and I’ve got four children so when I became a busy mum finding the time and space to focus on my own health and wellbeing was even harder, and the weight continued to pile on.
‘I couldn’t stand to look at myself in the mirror or have any photos taken of me.
‘I wanted to be a positive role model for my children and I didn’t want them to grow up with the same unhealthy relationship with food I had. ‘
Ms Stokes tried fad diets throughout her twenties and after becoming a mum to four – Imogen, 14, Archie, 12, Isaac, eight, and Marnie, seven – she found focusing on her own health harder and the pounds piled on.
She ensured her kids ate healthy meals, but ‘self-neglect’ mean she would skip meals completely and ‘end up binge eating’ as a result, making trips to the local petrol station after the school run or on the way to work to pick up sweets and pastries, and order takeaways for dinner.
The week after her Alton Towers humiliation, Ms Stokes – who was forced to wear size 30 clothes – joined Slimming World.
But being told she was too hefty for the ride wasn’t the only reason she turned to the weekly diet club for support in losing weight, and she recalls both collapsing while out shopping with her daughter, and being drawn as a ‘blob’ by her son.
Ms Stokes pictured at Alton Towers the day she knew she needed to address her weight
She said: ‘I collapsed because my blood sugars weren’t an even level because of the binge eating and not looking after myself.
‘I turned to my GP and they told me I had a risk of cardiovascular disease and that I needed to think about my health and do something about this.
‘I was pre-diabetic as well.
‘Just seeing the sheer horror and look on my daughter’s face was the one thing that made me realise I need to be here for the children and I was basically digging an early grave for myself if I kept abusing and neglecting my body in this way.
‘Not so long before Alton Towers my son was in nursery and he came home with a picture of the family.
‘I said to him “what’s this?”
‘He said, “this is daddy, this is Imogen” naming his siblings and then there was a big massive round blob with arms and legs and I said, “what’s that?”
‘He said, “that’s you”. He was little and didn’t know but I was so hurt by the picture and how my son saw me.’
Michelle Stokes used to wear size 30 clothes (left); now she fits into a size 12
In August 2019, Ms Stokes joined Slimming World, bringing along her husband Dan, 39, and their children along as her ‘cheerleaders’.
Slimming World isn’t a calorie-counting or points-based plan. Instead, it focuses on ‘Free Foods’ – things such as lean proteins, pasta, potatoes, fruit and vegetables, which members can eat freely without weighing or measuring – and measured daily allowances of ‘Healthy Extras’ such as cereals, wholemeal bread, or dairy.
There’s also a small allowance of treats, which can be used for the occasional chocolate or alcohol.
Ms Stokes said: ‘With Slimming World, my uncle Pete, 63, who lives down south has been following it and has done so well.
‘He had lost over 10st at that point and inspired me to join.
‘I find the plan really good and the fact it’s really realistic and rooted in healthy habits is great.
‘I’ve dropped nine dress sizes, halved my BMI and lost 50 per cent of my starting weight which is really fantastic.
‘Now I’ve got a brand new wardrobe full of clothes and I’m spoilt for choice.
Losing weight has filled her with a new sense of confidence
‘I’ll have overnight oats for breakfast.
‘In the summer it’s lovely to go out in a vest top and shorts and not worry what people are thinking about me.
‘Now I prepare meals the night before or as a family the night before.
‘Lunch at the work canteen I’ll have a jacket potato but I bring my own reduced fat cheese with beans and a side salad to go with it.
‘For tea, spaghetti Bolognese is one of the kids’ favourites.’
Ms Stokes has also embraced an active lifestyle, recently running the Race For Life 5k for Cancer Research with husband Dan, who has also lost nearly 4st on Slimming World.
She swims up to four times a week and regularly takes the family dog Bonnie for hour long walks before or after work.
Ms Stokes attended Slimming World’s head office in October 2025 after making it to the final 10 in the Woman of the Year awards.
She said: ‘Now I no longer hide from photos and don’t avoid social situations like I would have done – I believe in myself like I never did before.
‘Losing 12st 4.5lbs has shown me I’m capable of hard things and that belief spills into every part of my life’.