Success Story: Mary

AKA "MSchoen" on Weight Loss Resources

Dieting History

GI, Atkins, Weight Watchers, Detox, Facial Analysis, Detox again, Gillian McKeith, Grapefruit Diet, Cabbage Soup, F-Plan.

Have you lost weight before and regained the weight?

Often. Approximately every two years for the last 15 years, I’ve gained 1½ stone – 2 stone and lost some of it.

How being overweight has affected you…

Stopped me going out. I lived in tracksuits ‘socially’ constantly obsessed about how I looked. I hid behind my profession and had no social life. Since losing weight my confidence outside work has increased enormously and I feel a more 'complete' person. I don’t think people’s perception of me changed but I’m often seen in a professional capacity and people don’t see ‘me’.

Motivation to Diet

It is my 50th birthday this year. Realising that I have to take responsibility for my weight and accept that the menopause, underactive thyroid etc does not mean I cannot lose weight. It just means I have to eat less than 20 years ago. Mainly I wanted to be fit to embark on a trek to Nepal for Breast Cancer Care in March 2006. I completed the trek really easily, mainly thanks to the drop in weight, upping the exercise and especially to some really specific advice from fellow WLR members.

Discovering Weight Loss Resources

I read an article in Health & Fitness Magazine. I logged on for the free trial and realised within 24 hours that this was for me. I signed up for six months minimum immediately.

How Weight Loss Resources Helps

I realised the importance of measuring food and exercising regularly.

Some weeks my loss was very slow and I hit a plateau frequently. What kept me going were the message boards. I’ve had tremendous support with diet and exercise and also personally.

When a good friend died of breast cancer many users also sponsored me for my trek. These ‘strangers’ have become good friends. I’m constantly amazed with messages of support and advice re: training, food etc.

From reading the boards I have bought a HRM and realised that when I exercise I am not burning calories at the rate I thought. In a way this is a boost because it shows I’m fitter than I thought and also this is why I haven’t lost weight in the past. Although I’ve exercised I have over compensated by eating too much post work-out.

The Best of Weight Loss Resources

Food and Exercise diaries and mainly the Advice and Support message board. I have also become addicted to ‘Caloris’ which makes me remember playing Tetris with my sons on game boy.

Mary's Dieting Tips

• Be Honest! That scrape of butter everyday does add up. Use the site exercise calculations, not the gym machines which can be really inaccurate.
• It is a fine balance of calories in and calories out. If you are honest it will work.
• Go to the gym and eat anything within moderation and within your calorie allowance.
• It does not take 3-4 weeks to gain 2 stone so it won’t take 3-4 weeks to lose it. Slow loss is permanent loss providing healthy eating principles.
• WLR is for life not for short term weight loss.
• Most users are experts at losing weight but not maintaining so use the site after you reach your goal.

Mary's Vital Statistics

	Before	Now
Weight	12st 3lb	10st 7lb