Mum had just boarded Manchester flight when request changed her life forever (2025)

It was a real wake-up call for Stockport mum Arlene

A Stockport mum has shared the humiliating experience onboard a flight with her daughter that drove her to finally take control of her health.

Arlene Collins, from Reddish, was travelling to Dublin with her daughter in August 2023 when an issue with an extender seatbelt turned into a wake-up call that would change her life forever.

Arlene, 53, had just boarded the flight when she was told the emergency exit seats where they were sitting did not have an extender belt available.

As a result, she was forced to move seats – feeling embarrassed and mortified as the flight was delayed as staff tried to find a suitable belt for her.

“Our seats were where the emergency exit is, so couldn’t provide me with an extender belt,” the mum told the MEN. “I had to move seats so they could give me an extender belt. I was mortified the flight was delayed so they could find me an extender belt.

“It’s not a pleasant experience being big. Everywhere you go, you also had to ask if there was a lift.”

At the time, Arlene weighed 19.5 stone and had been struggling with her weight for years. A lifelong battle with excess pounds had impacted every aspect of her life, and despite trying various diets, she found it difficult to make lasting changes.

However, the flight incident – along with wanting to slim down for a Taylor Swift show the following summer – pushed her to make health a priority for herself and her daughter.

By signing up to Greater Manchester and Cheshire slimming group Beeweighed, Arlene went on to shed three stone – now tipping the scales at 16.3st.

Hoping to get down to 14 stone, the mum-of-two has also gone down from a dress size 32 to an 18.

“I wanted to be fit for myself and my daughter to enjoy it the concert,” the carer said. “I’ve always struggled with weight. I was a heavy child, heavy teenager and heavy adult. I’ve dieted all my life.

“I knew what I needed to do, I just wasn’t doing it. I’d tried other weight loss groups and, quick fix diets.

"I knew what I was doing wrong, just with being weighed, it was the first time I ever found a non-judgemental environment.

“Because I’ve always worked in healthcare, I’ve always worked shifts. I was eating at the wrong times, eating wrong things, grabbing things for convenience compared to eating things from scratch.”

Arlene admits her busy lifestyle and shift work as a carer had contributed to her unhealthy eating habits – often grabbing food for convenience while opting for biscuits, cake and other snacks which only added to her weight gain.

“It was just a busy lifestyle. I just did things for convenience – biscuits, cake,” she said. “I had a wake-up call because my family members are diabetic and I had some bloods done and they said it was borderline, I had to address that. My last bloodwork has been fine."

But after a health scare with borderline diabetes, Arlene decided to take control. She began walking regularly, followed a stricter food plan and started being more mindful of her calorie intake.

“In myself, I feel more confident,” she said. “I feel happier, more content in myself. I’m enjoying life more.

"Back when I was 19 stone, me and my daughter went to the AO Arena. I was struggling with stairs so much. I thought I need to get fit for Taylor Swift.

“I was able to get around the place, I was fit and could move so much easier. Confidence-wise, I feel so much better, people are noticing.”

Arlene says a major part of her weight loss success has been drinking two litres of water a day and buying pre-portioned foods like chocolate and biscuits.

"I I find I can be disciplined if it’s pre-portioned,” she said. “Multipack of biscuits which come pre-portioned. I really find I can control my calorie intake better.”

Lynda Leadbetter, owner of Beeweighed, which offers national Zoom sessions, said: "Arlene is a wonderful lady who has achieved incredible success.

"She brings positivity every week and is always supportive of our other members. Both myself and her leader, Nic, are extremely proud of her accomplishments as a valued member of the Levenshulme meeting."