Over 8 stone loss and feeling fantastic!
At 37 years old and weighing over 21 stone Debbie’s body was under immense strain from the weight she was carrying. She could barely walk, her blood pressure was high and she was gasping for breath every time she climbed the stairs. Most worrying was that she feared not being around for her son in the future. The mortification of breaking her chair at work was the final straw which brought her to our online dieting site. 11 months later after following our Light Choices diet plan she weighs just over 12 stone having lost a staggering 8 stone 12 lbs!
Here is Debbie’s story...
How much weight have you lost? I was 23 stone 3 lbs and a size 32. I lost 1 stone 11 lbs on my own but quickly realised I needed guidance and recipe ideas so I joined up. My weight at that time was 21 stone 6 lbs. I now weigh 12 stone 8 lbs and I'm a size 12.
Have your family and friends been supportive to you in your weight loss efforts? My partner has been very supportive and is thrilled for me. My son has said how much better I look and my friends have all been complimentary about my weight loss. My parents are relieved as there is a history of heart disease and stroke in the family.
What part has exercise played in helping you to lose weight? An immense part! At first, I was so huge it was hard to do anything so I began with short, low impact dvd work-outs. However, it started to get easier very quickly and the more I did the more energy I had. I now walk everywhere I can and take regular exercise. For the first time since I was a child I have the confidence to join a sports activity – I’m thinking of going to karate with my son. I would never have done this when I was overweight.
Was your weight causing you any problems? I used to be tired all the time and I would come home from work and sit in a chair all night. I hated buying clothes and always struggled to find anything to fit. I had no self-confidence and rarely went out because I didn't want to be noticed and was always scared I would not fit into seats or through turnstiles. I even turned down a holiday to spain because I worried about fitting into the plane seat.
What difference to your life has losing weight made to you? It’s changed my life! I am more confident, my health is fantastic, I am full of energy and for the first time in my life I actually feel happy in myself. I can buy clothes from anywhere and feel good wearing them! The credit crunch has had an effect at work but I have been lucky enough to find an additional job. I would not have had the confidence to look for another job had I not lost weight. My relationship has also improved – my man loves my new found confidence and figure and I don’t mind because so do I!
Have you enjoyed our online dieting site? The Light Choices plan has introduced me to many new foods while allowing me to have my favourite foods. The plan has taught me about portion sizes, types of foods to eat and shown me that I can lose weight without being hungry and miserable. I like the fact that weigh-ins are done in the privacy of my own home but yet I can send comments and receive positive feedback after my weigh-in. I always look forward to receiving the advisors' replies.
Tell us about your diet before you joined us, and how has your diet changed as a result? I used to eat huge meals and ate all the wrong foods. Even when I thought I was eating something healthy like pasta, I ate too much and put fattening sauces on it! My particular weakness was chocolate – I would eat large amounts every day after my evening meal. Now I eat regularly throughout the day, have a much more varied diet and thoroughly enjoy the foods I eat. It doesn't feel like a diet at all and I don't have chocolate cravings anymore! I regularly have vegetarian dishes, stir fries, fresh fruit, beans and nuts and seeds which were foods I never had before!
Do you feel confident in maintaining your weight loss? For the first time in my life – yes! I always felt I was a slave to food. I ate constantly, hated myself and then ate more because I was angry and upset. Now I finally feel, after 20 years, that I am in control and it feels fantastic!
Finally a few words of encouragement for fellow dieters…..
Sign up! I recommend it to everyone I speak to. If it works for me it will work for anyone. Also, exercise regularly. If you don’t feel like it at the time, just do a little, even just a few minutes, and you will feel better for it.
