Sally's Calorie Counting Success Story
Using WLR has helped Sally adopt much healthier eating
habits and lose nearly 3 stone in weight.
Age: 27
Height: 5' 5½"
Start Weight: 12st
Current Weight: 9st 2lb
Goal Weight: Originally 10st
Weight Lost: 2st 12lb
Working to Rate of Loss: 2lb a week
Time Taken: 6 months
Dieting History
Nothing specific. Never joined a club or followed a
particular diet. But I've had several phases of being really
good, eating less and exercising more. I have been vegetarian
since I was 16, that's the only 'diet' I stick to!
Have you lost weight before and regained the weight?
Yes! Aged 21 I was up to about 14st. Got down to about
11st.5lb and relaxed. Went back up to about 13st, got back down
to about 11st. Then relaxed again and I reckon I must have been
12st for the last 2-3 years, although I never checked! I was
12st at the end of Jan 2006, which is when I started this time.
I started using WLR in March.
How being overweight has affected you…
Luckily I am a very up-beat, positive, optimistic person who
rarely gets down about stuff, so I wouldn't say that weighing
more ever stopped me from going out or doing stuff. But I did
have loads of nights out when I would try on every outfit I
owned, look in the mirror, think I looked fat, and end up going
out in something a bit drab feeling a bit down.
I also find that eating is my reaction to everything. If I am
annoyed or miserable I just want to eat everything in the house,
then go out and buy more, and eat that as well!!! Once I start
it's kind of like, well the damage is done, and I may as well
keep going!
When I was losing weight my friends were initially
supportive, but after the first 1.5 stones kind of turned on me
a bit and really started on 'Don't lose any more, you're too
thin, you'll make yourself ill, I don't want you to get any
thinner'. It really annoyed me because I was still above my
ideal weight range and was certainly not underweight! They said
things like you've never been this thin, please stay the same as
you've always been, and I'd think, why should I stay a bit
overweight, just because I've always been a bit overweight in
the past and that's what you're comfortable with? Anyway, now
I'm maintaining, they seem to have got used to the new me!
Motivation to Diet
Again nothing specific, other than a nagging at the back of my mind that I
would like to look slim, and that I knew really that I was a bit chunky! I
recently bought my first ever bikini, which although wasn't something I'd
thought about, is definitely something I'm chuffed about. I also fit into size
10 jeans from New Look which I am thrilled about!
Discovering Weight Loss Resources
In January when I decided to do something about losing weight
I searched the internet for a calorie counter and ta daa!!
How Weight Loss Resources Helps
People who know me are stunned when they see me eat now. Last
year I wouldn't have eaten salad or fruit if you paid me. I
always left side salads on restaurant plates. I would pick it
out of burgers, and never ate fruit. Now I actually won't eat
lunch or dinner unless it's accompanied by a dinner plate full
of salad (usually iceberg lettuce, red cabbage and spinach). I
also always eat breakfast now, which is something I had never
done before. I also have a tin of fruit cocktail nearly every
day, which is something else I wouldn't have eaten if you paid
me a year ago!
I have always loved eating. It's probably my favourite thing
in the world to do. But before I was just eating rubbish, and
although I thought I was enjoying it, looking back it was not
great. Now I prepare most of my food from scratch. If I want
beanburgers or vegeburgers I make them from scratch and in
Chilli and Curry I tend to use vegetables rather than meat
substitutes now. It's got to the point now where I look at the
frozen readymade stuff and think - I'd rather not eat it!
This may sound peculiar, but since using WLR I have
rediscovered my love of baking. The calories are all counted so
you need to make every one count. So why waste a few hundred on
some rubbishy little chocolate bar or packaged cake filled with
preservatives, when you could make something delicious from
scratch. I make a different cake or batch of biscuits every few
days. As soon as they're gone, I make something else. I have
never had such a variety of lovely things to eat as I have this
year, but all the calories are accounted for and it's great! I
have made my first ever-baked cheesecake, treacle tart and
carrot cakes recently!!!
When I started using WLR I was just having smaller portions
of what I normally had before to stay within calories. I stuck
to 1100 for over 4 months without lapsing!. This meant that my
meals were painfully small. That is why I forced myself to start
having salad with dinner, to fill the plate up a bit. Over the
months the salad has now become the biggest part of the meal! I
guess what I have really learned is what foods are low in
calories so that I can still have lots of food, rather than
having tiny portions of high calorie stuff.
The Best of Weight Loss Resources
I fill in my food diary every day. My favourite part of the
site is entering your own recipes. In the food diary at WLR you
can access three recipe sections: My Recipes, WLR Recipes and
Members Recipes. I have bought a lot of books
about cake making recently. And if I want to try one I can put
it in the recipe and experiment with cutting it into different
portions to see if it is feasible within calories! Also for
dinner dishes as well. I love my recipes and post them on the
food forum a lot.
I look at the forums every day whenever I sit at the
computer. I love reading them, and I really feel responsible now
to give positive vibes and advice to people, who are still
losing weight, because I got some brilliant advice and support
when I was losing.
Sally's Calorie Counting Tips
Only the obvious:
- Always fill in the food diary, and always be totally
honest
- Remember that you can eat anything you like as long as
it's within calories. If you want a cake - have it!
- Remember that just a modest amount of exercise (e.g. a
1-hour walk) can earn enough calories for a lovely treat!
- Always have breakfast!
- Read the forums, and if you have any questions, or just
need a friendly voice telling you that it'll be OK, then post
it, we're all here to help!
- Remember that weight loss is an ongoing journey that takes
time. The human body is not a machine that runs like
clockwork. There will be weeks when despite sticking to your
calories and being good the weight doesn't shift, or even
creep up. Try not to stress, stay positive, and look at the
big picture. OK, these 7 days haven't shown a loss, but over
the weeks / months there has been - big picture!
Just to say that it does work, and if you are determined you
can achieve everything you want. If you have a few bad days or
weeks, don’t worry, it's never too late to draw a line under it
and start again.
Possibly the thing I am most proud of is introducing my dad
to WLR. He had a heart valve replacement operation in March and
was told he needed to lose at least 2 stone. When I visited him
in my I had just reached maintenance. He was really impressed
with my weight and I showed him the site. He signed up and 10
weeks on he has already lost over 2 stone and is on his way to a
weight he never thought possible. He rings me up every week
raving on about what he's had to eat, and how many calories he's
earnt through exercise. It's given him a whole new lease of
life. He's always telling me how much he loves the site. I'm
very, very proud! His user name is LittleJohn.
More Information: Like Sally you can use the tools of
WLR to adopt and experiment with your favourite recipes to make
them healthier and contain less calories. |
