'I looked pregnant but I knew it wasn't a baby growing inside me'

'I looked pregnant but I knew it wasn't a baby growing inside me' Debs Dunham was stunned when doctors found the cause A woman who 'looked pregnant' has opened up about what was really going on. It was actually a cancerous tumour that caused her to pile on the weight – but a popular throwback diet 'saved' her figure. As Debs Dunham gazed into the mirror, she barely recognised the reflection staring back at her. The client relationship manager, who lived a healthy lifestyle and kept her size 12 figure, was shocked to see her stomach looking as though she was expecting a baby. And, at 44, having a child was the last thing on her mind. Concerned, she made an appointment with her GP, who delivered the devastating news that a 20-cm cancerous tumour had been discovered in her ovaries. Although she went into remission following treatment, the ordeal also pushed her into early menopause – and into a larger dress size. At her heaviest, she weighed 15st 8lbs, prompting her to try a well-known diet from the 2010s that helped her shed more than 4st 8lbs in just nine months. "I'd seen an advert for Jane Plan," Debs, from Swindon, told creatorzine.com. "It supported weight loss through healthy portion-controlled meals delivered to your door. So I decided to give it a go." Debs first noticed the changes to her body back in 2020, when during a spin class, her knee kept hitting her stomach. Initially, she laughed it off, but mentioned it to her husband, who said: "I didn't want to say anything, but you do look pregnant". As her stomach continued to swell and more people started to take notice, she became desperate to find out what was wrong. She said: "I was convinced it was either the menopause or bloating. I drank peppermint tea relentlessly and swallowed every anti-bloating remedy I could find. "I remember lying on the floor one day, physically pushing against my stomach, as though I could force it to disappear. Looking back, it sounds ridiculous, but I was scared and frustrated. "My body no longer felt like my own. I stopped undressing in front of my husband because I was embarrassed by what I had become. "And, deep down, I knew something was growing inside of me. I just didn't know what." Following a conversation with her GP, urgent blood tests and an MRI scan were arranged, which uncovered the tumour. Surgeons moved swiftly to operate, and thankfully, a procedure to drain fluid and a hysterectomy were both successful. Yet Debra then faced an entirely new struggle. Prior to her treatment, her diet had consisted of muesli for breakfast, chicken salads at lunch and vegetable-packed dinners, along with fruit-based snacks. However, following her cancer diagnosis and hysterectomy, her eating habits took a sharp turn. Breakfast became two slices of toast with peanut butter, while lunch was a sandwich accompanied by crisps and a chocolate bar. At tea time, it'd be pasta – with a portion size big enough to feed two. Before long, Debs found her size 14 clothes had become too tight and her breasts were 'enormous'. She said: "On a visit to see my mum, she could see I wasn't happy. To cheer me up, she made me a beautiful denim skirt. "As I held it up, I thought there was no way it'd fit, as it looked huge. But, as I put it on, I realised how wrong I was. "It was too tight. I felt horrified. "Then, I struggled getting into a pair of size 16 jeans. I couldn't believe how much I let myself go. "I lost so much more than my figure; I lost my confidence, identity and the way I felt about myself as a woman. I started hiding from photographs and doing everything I could to avoid attention. The penny dropped that something had to change now – and fast." In September 2023, she began using Jane Plan. For £259-per-month, nutritious and sensibly-sized meals were delivered straight to her door. Breakfast would consist of a bowl of muesli or granola. Lunch would see Debs tuck into soups and fruit, while dinner brought cottage pie or chilli. For snacks, the now-51-year-old would enjoy a small chocolate bar or biscuit. After just two weeks, she had shed more than 8lbs. Within a month, more than a stone had disappeared. She said: "As the pounds fell off, I got my spark back. For someone my size at the time, I think this approach was better [than using jabs]. "It helped me to control my portion sizes while still eating healthy, balanced meals rather than feeling like I was restricting myself. What I found most valuable is that it helped me change my relationship with food and re-educated me on what a proper portion looks like. "I wasn't just losing weight; I was learning how to eat properly. I was able to keep the weight off even after I stopped using Jane Plan, which, for me, was a real sign that it had worked. "It wasn't a quick fix, though. I'm not opposed to weight-loss jabs at all and I can absolutely see why they're beneficial for some people. "For those who are severely overweight or have health conditions linked to their weight, they can be a really important tool. However, for me personally, I felt I was still active and capable of exercising, so focusing on healthier eating and portion control felt like the right route to take. "And, with the jab alone, I wouldn't have learned these habits. I'm so proud of how far I've come. "It's had a hugely positive impact on my relationship with my husband, too. We've got that spark back in the bedroom that we both thought had been lost forever. And not only can I get my mum's denim skirt on with ease, I've had to ask her to take it in."