At a size 20 with a BMI of 32 Donna was heartbroken when a local teenager called her “fat”. This challenged her to lose weight so at 13 stone 10lbs she joined up to our online dieting site and has lost over 2 stone in a year. Now, at size 14 with a BMI of 27 she is bursting with pride having being called a “skinny minny” at her child’s school! “That comment has made my whole year!”

Here is Donna’s story..

Have your family and friends been supportive? My husband is my hero. I know that he would love me if I were big, small or even green! But he is also very proud that I have finally managed to lose weight and that it is staying off. Many friends have commented on how different I look and some people haven’t even recognised me!

What part has exercise played in helping you to lose weight? I started training for a Swimathon in January and in April I swam 26 miles in 30 days, raising over £300 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. I am a part-time swimming instructor and I used to compete when I was young so swimming is my preferred exercise. Going to the gym is not my idea of a good time so I rarely go, but I try to vary the activities I do and I have recently started running short distances and playing badminton. This year my holiday will be an active one with canoeing, cycling and walking.

Was your weight causing you any problems? Fashion and clothes have always been part of my life. I used to work as a Technologist for large retailers and wearing a size 12 meant that I could have my pick of all the sample sizes at the end of the buying season. However, I gained a clothes size with each child I had and at a size 20 I could not have the pick of clothes I liked and mainly dressed in top-to-toe black.

What difference has losing weight made to you? I feel fantastic! My wardrobe is full of colourful clothes again and I even have a pair of white size 12 jeans that I love.

What did you think of our online dieting site? The best thing about the site is the support boards and the circle of friends. They are great for a boost when willpower flags and brilliant for sharing successes. Without the 40’s board I would have given up after 7 weeks and convinced myself that I was meant to be fat forever.

Tell us about your diet before you joined us, and how has your diet changed as a result? Stodge and more stodge! I was a great comfort food eater which involved mostly savoury stuff but I love to cook and could demolish a whole cheesecake! I was eating the same amount as my husband and I am of the “clean your plate” upbringing which has been a hard habit to break. Now I eat sensibly and only when I’m hungry. I eat more fruit and veg and I don’t snack anymore between meals. A cuppa now means just that, not a cuppa and a biscuit!

Do you feel confident in maintaining your weight loss? I still have some weight to lose but I know that I can do it. For me, its just about mindset - I eat to live not live to eat like I used to. I hate the word diet and never use it. This is how I am going to eat forever. I don’t want to be a size 20 again so I can’t eat like I did then!

Finally, have you any tips for fellow dieters out there? My main advice to other people is that you have to find the right mindset to shed your excess weight. Making a commitment to yourself is the key. Joining the support boards and circles can really help if you need the extra help. I have made friends for life and I hope to meet them in reality soon!

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