Emma's Calorie Counting Success Story
Lifestyle changes meant Emma was less active which resulted
in her weight gain. Desperate to lose weight, Emma has used WLR
to educate her eating habits and lose nearly 3st.
Age: 29
Height: 5' 8"
Start Weight: 12½st post-baby
Current Weight: 9st 8lb
Goal Weight: 9 - 9½st-ish
Weight Lost: 2st 13lb
Working to Rate of Loss: varied 1-2lb per week
Dieting History
Nothing official. I did try cutting out white stuff like
bread and pasta at one point and that made me feel less bloated.
To be honest I have never really had that much weight to lose
before getting pregnant in 2004. So when I put on 4 stone over 6
months I didn't really have a clue how to lose it. I tried
exercising like mad but that just made me hot, tired and
miserable!
Have you lost weight before and regained the weight?
My heaviest before being pregnant was 10½ stone after a month
in the US - Taco Bell, Mac Donald's and Benny's (Yuk). That came
off really easy as I have always been quite active.
Late 2002, I
split up with my previous partner and started scuba diving every
week, looking after my lovely horse and training to be a
Chartered Accountant. I think the combination of activity and
stress and a smoking habit caused me to get to my lowest weight
of about 8½ stone in late 2003. Some of that went back on over
Xmas but not a lot and I was only 8 3/4 stone at 9 weeks
pregnant in September 2004!
How being overweight has affected you…
After having my daughter and getting married, I don't have as
much spare time on my hands.
I haven't been diving or riding for
at least 18 months. I miss my active life a great deal and I
think the whole weight gain and lifestyle change has been a real
shock. I wanted to get active and lose the weight but found it
hard to find the time. I would get very miserable sat at home on
maternity leave and just eat.
I wanted to get out with friends
but had no clothes to wear and shopping for them made me cry
(actually in the shops and changing rooms). I have argued with
my OH and things have really been rocky. He believes in 'tough
love', i.e. push someone hard enough and they will thank you
when they get there. People still saw me as me but I didn't.
Motivation to Diet
I have a lovely pair of jeans that my OH bought me just
before I found out I was pregnant. I wanted to get them on
again. I wanted to look like a slim mummy and feel less squidgy.
I wanted to go shopping without crying and wear lycra again! I
wanted to know I could get my Drysuit on and go diving. I knew I
could do it I just had to find a way to get there and prove to
myself that I could have all of the above!
Discovering Weight Loss Resources
Hmm, I have no idea. I think I stumbled across it looking for
a calorie counting website. Sorry not very exciting like coming
to me in a dream!
How Weight Loss Resources Helps
Well I have lost the last stone since January. I can wear
those jeans, fit into my dry suit with a squeeze, go shopping
and not cry, wear lycra to go running and have to find a soft
bit for my daughter rest her head on when we cuddle.
I have been able to 'talk' whenever I wanted and some one
would listen on the message boards. So much advice has been
offered and so many cyberhugs and pats on the back have been
given. One message told me that 'your family/friends get angry
because they are so fed up of hearing about the calorie content
of this and that and your latest exercise plans that they don't
want to hear any more' I thought it was quite harsh but realised
that this was right - so now I talk to the guys on the boards
instead.
I have started running and decided to do Race for Life in
June and the runners message board has been great. It's like
being at a club.
The diary is great as you don't just focus on calories but
look at how balanced your diet is and how much fruit and veg you
are consuming. This makes it more of a lifestyle exercise than
just another diet.
Oh and the little jotters are fab!
The Best of Weight Loss Resources
I use the food diary, research facility, recipes and the
message boards. That covers most of it hey?
Emma's Calorie Counting Tips
Fill in your food diary as realistically as you can and
change things about to get the best plan for you, ie rate of
loss, weigh in days. Look at the balance of what you are eating
and not just the calories.
Talk to the other members as they are a huge source of help
and support. Look at people's profiles and you'll be surprised
at how many people are like yourself and how far some people
have come already. It helps to know you can do it.
Find time to exercise even if it only means getting the
ironing out and hoovering the lounge. My dog has enjoyed his
extra walks even the ones in the rain and I dance to the
Tweenies with my daughter.
I feel like I have had a massive personal journey since
January. I was doubting I would ever lose the weight and sort
out my eating habits. I am still about 1/2 stone heavier than
before I was pregnant but I don't care. I have come to the
realisation that I am slim now and I just want to get fit and
toned. The message has finally sunk in.
I'm not perfect but then no one is. I am still going to keep
going with the food diary to keep an eye on my eating patterns,
to give back support that has been given and to join in with the
runners on the message boards. I don't think you can just get to
your ideal weight and simply stop taking care of your diet and
lifestyle. It's not just about the weight, that’s just the
tangible thing that we blame it on.
So that’s where I am now - Thanks WLR.
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