During an operation to have the hernias removed, doctors fitted a gastric band to help curb her over-eating but an unexpected infection left her with pneumonia.
Now, she is fully recovered and feeling better than ever after losing weight.
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Alison Kingsley with a swollen stomach due to hernias
Kingsley became a size 28 after having her daughter, Ellise, now 15, and struggled to maintain a healthy weight since.
The self-confessed "comfort eater" has said her hernias became so enlarged that strangers looked at her swollen stomach area and assumed she was pregnant.
"It got so bad that I even toyed with the idea of wearing a T-shirt with the words, 'hernias, not babies' written on it," she said.
According to the NHS, being overweight or obese can increase a person's chance of developing hernias, although they can happen to anyone.
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Alison Kingsley before having a gastric band fitted
Kingsley tried to lose weight by visiting dieticians and upping her exercise, but her hernias meant even small movements became painful.
Eventually, doctors agreed to remove the hernias and fit Kingsley with a gastric band at the same time.
At first she was pleased with the operation and started to notice her stomach shrink, but three weeks later she began to constantly vomit and was rushed back to hospital.
Doctors discovered Kingsley had pneumonia that had been caused by her developing an infection. She was placed in a medically-induced coma for three weeks.
Thankfully, the medics were able to save Kingsley's life and she was able to return home two months later to continue her weight loss journey.
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Alison Kingsley after losing weight
Despite the complications she suffered along the way, Kingsley says she has no regrets about the hernia and gastric band surgery.
She's even taken up some of her favourite childhood hobbies, including swimming and horse riding, and is enjoying keeping in shape.
She said: "I have far more energy and I have loads of confidence...When I look back at how unhappy I was when my stomach was swollen, I'm so happy that my life has changed for the better."
If your goal is to keep losing weight, melon, which is rich in minerals like beta-carotene, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, copper and zinc is the ideal fruit. Melon boasts laxative properties that help along digestion and avoid fat storage which in turn prevents weight gain. Rich in fibers, it is also considered a belly-slimming fruit. Last but not least, melon has a very low calorie count (38 calories/100g or 3.5 oz). (credit:srqpix/Flickr)
Tea(02 of10)
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First and foremost, tea has virtually no calories (1 calories/100 g or 3.5 fl oz) and has a very low satiety level. In addition, the polyphenols found in tea aids in burning off fat while its diuretic properties help eliminate toxins. (credit:Dano/Flickr)
Lemon(03 of10)
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A strong antioxidant, lemon is an excellent health ally. The fruit activates the secretion of bile in your body's organism to better digest foods thanks to its high vitamin C levels. Finally, the citric acid found in lemons work to help the stomach burn fat and proteins. Lemon has a calorie count of 33 calories/100g or 3.5 oz. (credit:Photos By Clark/Flickr)
Pineapple(04 of10)
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Pineapple is known as one of the best foods for weight loss. It naturally contains bromelain which is an excellent fat-burning enzyme that favors the elimination of fats by breaking down their cell-tissue. The fruit has a calorie count of 33 calories/100 g or 3.5 oz. (credit:smin/Flickr)
Fennel contains no less than a dozen antioxidant elements, primarily flavonoids that work to eradicate free radicals. The vegetable is also rich in potassium and calcium with only 20 calories/100g or 3.5 oz. It's the ideal food to avoid weight gain while you boost your mineral intake. (credit:Nick Saltmarsh/Flickr)
Carrot(07 of10)
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This orange vegetable contains a high concentration of carotenoids (vitamin A), beta and alpha carotene. A 100g (3.5 oz portion) covers more than half of the daily requirements for an adult. It also contains both vitamins B and K and provides a worthy quantity of potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. Carrots have a calorie count of 36 calories/100g or 3.5 oz. (credit:swong95765/Flickr)
Cherry Tomato(08 of10)
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These small vegetables pack a rich volume of magnesium, calcium, vitamin C and B9. Its diuretic properties help to eliminate a large amount of toxins which helps avoid storage of fats. Only 29 calories/100g or 3.5 oz. Photo courtesy of Christian Schnettelker (credit:manoftaste.de/Flickr)
Raspberry(09 of10)
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Thanks to its high-fibre content, raspberries help digestion. The sweet fruit is also rich in vitamin C, magnesium and calcium. Raspberries number 45 calories/100g or 3.5 oz. (credit:mindwhisperings/Flickr)
Cucumber(10 of10)
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Composed of 97 per cent water, the cucumber is the number-one diuretic food of this list. It encourages and even accelerates weight loss. Rich in vitamin K, it has one of the lowest calorie counts with 12 calories/100g or 3.5 oz. (credit:Stacy Spensley/Flickr)