Woman loses 12st without jabs after Alton Towers boat ride ‘sank’ under her weight

A MUM shed 12st after an Alton Tower’s boat ride began “sinking” under her weight and she had to be escorted off by staff.

Michelle Stokes, 40, was 23st 11.4lbs and a size 30 at her heaviest after admitting she began “neglecting” herself after becoming a mum-of-four.

After the school run, Michelle would always stop by her local petrol station to gorge on confectionary items like sweets and pastries, before ordering a takeaway for dinner.

A trip to Alton Towers was the turning point after the mum was left crying “all the way home” in the car.

While in CBeebies Land with her children, she went on a boat ride which began “sinking” due to Michelle’s weight and staff had to help her get off.

A week later, she joined Slimming World and has gone on to shed 12st 4.5lbs. Now, the occupational therapist, weighs 11st 7lbs and fits into a size 12.

Michelle, from Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, said: “We went to Alton Towers and went to CBeebies Land.

“Imogen and Marnie wanted to go on one of the rides there, a boat ride, and I was in a lot of pain that day – 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,” she added.

Michelle 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 gained weight.

She ensured her kids ate healthy meals, but “self-neglect” mean she would skip meals completely and “end up binge eating” as a result.

She said: “I’ve always struggled with my weight but it started in my late teens.

“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.”

Michelle says she “couldn’t stand” looking at herself in the mirror – or having her photograph taken.

She said: “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. “

A number of events led up to Michelle choosing to join Slimming World, including when she collapsed whilst on a shopping centre trip with her daughter.

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 that I needed to think about my health and do something about this.

“I was pre-diabetic as well.”

Michelle said: “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.

“I was basically digging an early grave for myself if I kept abusing and neglecting my body in this way.”

A week after the Alton Towers trip in August 2019, Michelle joined Slimming World, bringing along her husband Dan, 39, and their children along as her “cheerleaders”.

Michelle 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.”

Michelle has managed to drop nine dress sizes, halved my BMI and lost 50 per cent of my starting weight which is really fantastic.

She is delighted to be “spoilt for choice” with her new wardrobe full of clothes she gets excited to put on and look in the mirror.

Now she has the confidence to wear items that show off her body more.

Michelle said: “In the summer it’s lovely to go out in a vest top and shorts and not worry what people are thinking about me.”

Speaking about how she is managing her weight and health, the mum added: “Now I prepare meals the night before or as a family the night before.

“I’ll have overnight oats for breakfast. 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.”

Michelle 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.

Michelle 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”.