Mum's Mountain Rescue Shame Sparks Dramatic 5 Stone Weight Loss
A mother from the West Midlands has revealed how a mortifying mountain rescue during a family ski holiday became the catalyst for her incredible 5 stone weight loss transformation. Natalie Colbourne-Park, 43, says the embarrassing incident where she had to be strapped to a sled and towed off a French ski slope finally prompted her to take control of her health.
The Accident That Changed Everything
In January 2024, Natalie jetted off to the prestigious Val d'Isère ski resort in France with her family, looking forward to a winter getaway. Just two hours after strapping into her skis, the 5ft 5in national sales manager took what she describes as a "bone-crunching" slow-pace fall that would change her life forever.
"My knees slid forward while my body tilted back," Natalie explained, blaming her weight of 14 stone 7 pounds for the low-speed injury that snapped her right knee. The accident left her needing reconstructive surgery and created a scene she'll never forget.
Pictures show paramedics strapping the mortified mother onto a rescue sledge before hauling her off the slope. "I had to be rescued, and my kids found it hilarious," she recalled. "They put me on a stretcher and put a plastic blanket on me. I was completely embarrassed."
The Transformation Journey Begins
That embarrassing moment on the mountain became what Natalie calls the "trigger" for her weight loss journey. In February 2024, she started a course of Mounjaro injections, a medication that helped her achieve remarkable results within just six months.
"I knew I was carrying extra weight that was going to impede my recovery," Natalie said about her post-accident realization. "At that point I thought, 'I'm going to try this.' That was the trigger that prompted me to try the weight loss medication."
The results were astonishing. Within six months, Natalie lost 5 stone 7 pounds, dropping to just 9 stone and shrinking from a size 16 to a size 6. While she had tried multiple diets before with temporary success, she says the medication finally allowed her to take lasting control.
Creating Her Own Wellness Solution
Natalie's journey inspired her to launch HerVibe Supplements, a wellness brand designed specifically to support women taking weight loss medications like Mounjaro or Wegovy. Her professional background in pharmaceuticals and medical aesthetics, combined with her personal experience, drove this entrepreneurial move.
"I was just trying to protect my body and minimise side effects on Mounjaro," Natalie explained about her motivation. "I was using two pill organisers because there were so many that they didn't fit in one. I was absolutely rattling with pills."
At one point, she was taking 18 supplements daily, spending over £2,000 throughout her transformation. This experience led her to create a more streamlined solution. "I wanted to create something that is accessible, easy and sustainable," she said about HerVibe. "It's designed as a companion to sit alongside the journey."
A New Lease on Life
Eighteen months after reaching her target weight, Natalie maintains her transformation and enjoys a completely different quality of life. "Life is just easier when you're not overweight," she reflected. "I'm more agile, being able to bend down and put my ski boots on and put my kids' ski boots on."
Her clothing size transformation has been particularly dramatic. "I went from having to buy very masculine ski-wear like XL trousers and jackets, to buying myself an all-in-one ski-suit in a size small this year," she revealed.
Perhaps most importantly, her children have noticed the change. "My kids see that because they say 'Mummy, you look so much happier now than you were when you were fat'," Natalie shared.
Looking back on that embarrassing mountain rescue, Natalie now sees it in a different light. "In hindsight, it's the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me because I wouldn't be where I am now," she concluded, proving that sometimes our most challenging moments can lead to our greatest transformations.
