I started having weight problems 7 years ago when I had the contraceptive implant for the first time.
HOW DID YOUR WEIGHT AFFECT ANY ASPECT(S) OF YOUR LIFE? I felt ugly and ashamed of myself. I didn’t want my boyfriend to see me naked and I only wore black trousers as I couldn’t fit into anything else. I began to sabotage my relationship because I did not feel beautiful enough to be loved. My social life stopped and I stopped trying to being happy because I didn’t feel I was entitled to.
WHAT WAS THE “TURNING POINT” THAT GOT YOU STARTED ON YOUR WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY? I graduated university in July 2014 and when buying my outfit I had to get a size 22 blouse and a size 20 skirt. I felt so ashamed on the day. When I received the official photograph I refused to let anyone have a copy and that’s when I decided enough was enough.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED? I ended up having to stay with my sister and she was a member of Weight Watchers,. The second night of meach arriving there is weighed myself as a shocking 210lbs and I asked if I could go with her to the meetings.
HOW LONG AFTER YOU STARTED DID YOU BEGIN TO SEE RESULTS OF YOUR WEIGHT LOSS EFFORTS? It was about 6 months before I started to see the results. I didn’t go out much and I was living over 2 hours commute from my boyfriend so I never really dressed up so I couldn’t tell my body was changing. It was only when one evening I was trying on clothes ready for anext evening out that I realised I could fit into my size 18 skinny jeans.
WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PART? Living with my sister was difficult as I was away from my friends and boyfriend, I felt extremely low and didn’t leave the house often. My sister helped me, but I felt like an imposter in her and her husbands home. I felt very alone. It was difficult because I had very little contact with other people nobody was really there to encourage me or to see my results.
DID YOU EVER WANT TO GIVE UP? WHAT KEPT YOU GOING? I did give up at some points. I remember buying a huge box of chocolates and eating one after another until I felt sick but I kept going. Afterwards I felt the same shame as before and I cried. I think that made me realise I didn’t want to be who I once was. I wanted to change, I wanted to be happy – the idea that I could be happy pushed me on. Feeling happy seemed like a distant memory to me.
DID YOU HIT ANY WEIGHT LOSS PLATEAUS? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM? I moved back to my home city and stayed with my mom over the Christmas period of 2015 it was difficult as I felt happier and her life style was so different to the one I had with my sister. I began to eat little luxuries and my weight hit a stand still – I kept losing and gaining the same 3lbs. I didn’t concentrate on my weight loss for months but luckily didn’t gain back too much weight – it was September 2016 when I decided to join a Slimming World group with a friend that I began to lose my weight again.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO LOSE MOST OF THE WEIGHT? It’s taken over a year to lose 25lbs which isn’t much – I still have more to lose, but the changesame in my body and my mindset are, in my oponion, fantastic.
DID YOU HAVE ANY NON-SCALE VICTORIES? Fitting into size 16 skinby jeans made my day! Buying clothes in a size 16 to go out for my birthday and go to work has really pushed my confidence up. A massive one for me is my underwear! I was the Queen of granny pants! Now I don’t mind wearing smaller briefs as I don’t feel like my stomach needs tucking away.
WHAT DOES YOUR DAILY DIET LOOK LIKE COMPARED TO WHEN YOU WERE HEAVIER? My diet now has vegetables in! I was eating takeaways all the time or frozen meals. Now I prepare my meals from scratch as often as possible and try new foods. I still have the odd takeaway but I try to pick healthier options where I can. I also drink water and if I crave fizzy pop it’s diet only.
HOW DOES YOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COMPARE TO WHEN YOU WERE HEAVIER? I could barely walk up a few steps without feeling my chest tighten, now I go for a stroll at work of a lunch time and try to fit in 6000 steps. I don’t feel like getting around is such a struggle.
MY WEIGHT LOSS TIPS & TRICKS
- Plan! Planning meals is so good as it helps keep you focused for the day ahead.
- Introduce exercise slowly! It’s easy to try to go from 0 to 100 in a day with exercising but starting off with just a walk around the block will be such a shock to the system that the weight will come off and once your body gets used to that, introduce more exercise.
- Always have fruit and vegetables to hand. I carry around 2 pieces of fruit where ever I go because if I then get peckish I know it’s there instead of popping to a newsagent and picking up a chocolate bar or bag of crisps.
- Don’t cut out “bad food” because if you then want it you’ll feel guilty for having it which can lead to a downward spiral. Always allow yourself bits of what you want or create healthier versions of your favourite bald foods to make sure you feel like you’re never missing out.
- Do it for you. Never let the words of others be the reason you lose weight. Find a reason why you want it and use that as your motivator.
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