'Road to success' with the Gi plan!
Although Jackie registered with the online weight loss programme some years ago the success she achieved was short lived. She was dealt a devastating blow when her beloved father was diagnosed with cancer and later died of the disease. Understandably she turned to comfort food and the results showed on her waist line.
“I put back on what I had lost plus another 1 stone 9 lbs. I even struggled to fit into a size 16”
Some time later at home alone with only her thoughts for company, the realisation that she was stuck in a cycle of self destruction hit Jackie. Her weight and poor eating habits had begun to impinge on all areas of her life.
In denial up to this point about the extent to which her weight was affecting her quality of life and health, she knew the time had come to take serious action against it and her motivation was further strengthened when the scales reflected an all time high reading of 13 stone 2 lbs.
“Due to illness I was off work and felt totally fed up with everything. I realised that only I could make the lifestyle choice to start losing weight. I needed to turn things around so I decided to join the Gi plan.”
Jackie joined the plan just 7 months ago and in that time she has lost 2 stone 9 lbs. She describes just how desperate she felt before dropping the pounds.
“My self confidence was non existent, my weight impacts deeply on my emotional state and I was deeply unhappy. Being a typical pear shape it was difficult to buy clothes at the best of times but it was close to impossible when I weighed my heaviest. Nothing fitted or looked nice, so I stopped trying.”
Now Jackie has no problem flaunting her newly defined curves. And she explains just how losing weight changed her quality of life!
“Losing the weight has been the catalyst to a much happier and healthier me. My confidence has returned. I love buying clothes; I’m fit and recently passed a full health check with flying colours. I would never have believed this possible six months ago”
Although Jackie didn’t measure herself before starting the plan she lost a jaw dropping 11.5 inches after training for a challenge run.
“I’ve never been a fan of exercise, but I was really serious about getting healthy in every sense so exercise was a must. I bought a running machine and for the first three months used it five nights a week. I also started swimming 50 lengths every week and doing Cardio Box and Pump DVDs at home. If you try out different forms of exercise you will eventually find one that you enjoy and once you have got past the burn you’ll be hooked!”
Jackie admits that her weakness lay in portion control and the one too many glasses of wine she indulged in.
“My diet wasn’t too bad before, it was my lack of attention to food portions that was the problem! I also exceeded the recommended alcoholic units each week, which played a massive part in my huge weight gain in 2006.”
She overturned all these bad habits and replaced them with a healthy eating diet and fitness regime that she can easily maintain in the long term.
“I will never, ever be overweight again. The lessons I have learned are sustainable for life!”
And just how can she be so confident of her long lasting success. Well it is simple Jackie has 6 golden rules that she swears by.
• Join a challenge, or set one for yourself
• Surround yourself by a close knit support network
• Eat everything on your meal plan; cutting portions will just lead to overeating later.
• Drink at least 2 litres of water per day
• Get regular exercise
• If you have lots to lose break it down into manageable half stone goals.
Many of Jackie’s friends see her as a walking advert for the Gi plan!
“My weight has spurred other friends to lose weight; they use this online weight loss programme and have decided to follow the Gi plan. I never stop singing the praises of it, why would anyone want to eat any other way!”
Jackie is explicit about just how much she enjoyed the various aspects of the website.
“I have loved every part of this site from the gorgeous easy to cook recipes to the real community spirit on the support boards which provide encouragement, sympathy, praise, advice and a jolly good old natter whenever you feel like it.”
Describing the past few years as a journey that gets continually closer to a paradise type destination, leaves us in no doubt as to what a positive guide the Gi plan has been for Jackie.
“I feel like I have been on a journey and have reached my destination which is somewhere I love being. I am happier and more confident than ever before!”
