Mother of the groom gets re-motivated!
Sarah McCann
Dietician
Julia never had difficulty following diets but once she lost a few pounds she found it very difficult to maintain her weight due to dwindling willpower.
Initially, a holiday to the Netherlands spurred Julia to lose weight.
“I had to buy bigger clothes for my holiday which was so depressing. I felt such a mess.” Just before we came home, my Dutch friend wanted me to jump on the scales and said “when we meet up this time next year, we will both have lost weight.”
“I began dieting in June 2006, and managed to lose over 2 stone myself by Christmas. This was just by generally cutting back, eating healthily, and not snacking between meals. However I was still not down to my target weight, and couldn’t get re-motivated after another holiday in January. I messed around for three months, getting nowhere but more or less managing to maintain until one of my son’s got married in March. After that wedding, I really lost motivation and began to put on weight."
With the wedding of her second son fast approaching she knew she had to do something about her weight before it again spiralled upwards. “I had filled in a profile for the online programme in the past and had been receiving emails for some time”.
It was reading about the new Totals plan and the thought of the forthcoming wedding and another new outfit that gave Julia the final incentive and motivation that she needed to join the online plans.
In a last bid attempt to lose those last few stone she registered with the online programme. Julia didn’t like the idea of set meal plans so the Totals plan was perfect for her.
The flexibility of the plan was a great encouragement.
“I could eat the same as the rest of her family as long as it was sensible. The Nutrition Totaller was the biggest help for keeping tally of what I ate as it provided me with the all the totals, calories and nutritional values of a variety of foods.”
This has made her more aware of what is in the foods she is eating and she now reads the labels on food and always goes for the low-fat, low-sugar versions of everything.
She was also particularly impressed by the support that was offered “from fellow dieters on the support boards, in my case, mainly the 50+ group. Joining in on the challenges on that board was my main source of motivation”. Pledging to lose specific amounts of weight or doing particular amounts of exercise helped her reach her goal.
“Without the support of that group, I don’t think I’d be where I am today”
Before joining, Julia “did always like the healthy options but the trouble was, I liked the unhealthy food too”.
She also regularly snacked between meals. Now she chooses healthy snacks such as “fruit or carrot sticks”. She also tends to choose baked potatoes over chips and low calorie yogurts and desserts over stodgy puddings and she finds that she doesn’t miss them that much now.
After joining, Julia realised that exercise would help, along with the diet. She always walked the dog but now she makes sure to walk faster and further.
“I went swimming more regularly and with the motivation of challenges on the support boards; I have skipped, climbed stairs, bought an exercise bike, fit ball and hula hoop and have just tried to do extra exercise of some sort everyday."
This all led to losing a further two stone and going from a size 16 to a size 10/12. She reached the target that was set before her son’s wedding!
“I felt really elated to have reached my goal, the week of his wedding”.
So what does Julia love most about her weight loss?
“I do definitely have more confidence now. I just looked and felt awful all the time. I hated buying new clothes and I thought nothing looked right. Now I enjoy buying new clothes and can wear things I’d never dreamt of buying before. Everyone thinks that I look healthier and fitter. My husband is particularly pleased with my new look."
Does Julia feel confident about maintaining her weight loss?
“Yes, I do feel fairly confident. I know maintaining isn’t easy and have had the odd week when I’ve gained since reaching my goal. However, if I find I’ve gained one week, I just cut back on the calories again and am strict with myself the next week."
“Exercise helps too, and if I know I have over-indulged then I try to step up the exercise as well as cut back on calorie intake.”
Well done Julia, you’re an inspiration to us all!
