Age: 45
Height: 5' 8"
Start Weight: 14st 4lb
Current Weight: 10st
Goal Weight: 10st
Weight Lost: 4st 4lb
Working to Rate of Loss: 1½ - 2lb per week
Diet History
Weight Watchers, Slimming World Diet Clubs, Meal
Replacements, High Fibre Diet,
Low Fat Diet. When I was 8yrs
old, I was sent to a Dietician at the hospital after a school
medical. I was put on a low carbohydrate diet and appetite
suppressants which have now been announced as causing possible
heart complaints. I was 8yrs old, 7lbs pounds overweight when I
started and 2st overweight when they signed me off!!
Have you lost weight on a diet before
and regained it?
Yes I have been a yo-yo dieter since the age of 8.
How being overweight has affected you…
When I was overweight I tried to avoid going out socially. I
felt fat, frumpy and very OLD. Worse of all, out of control. I
was convinced that as soon as I was gone, everyone would be
talking about what a state I had allowed myself to get into. I
had no self-confidence and hated the way I looked.
I had no interest in clothes. As a size 20 I had convinced
myself there was no point in bothering; whatever I wore I would
look like a sack of potatoes. I didn’t make any effort and this
also applied to my hair and make up. I always wore black, a
habit I am still trying to break! There are some lovely colours
about and I am trying to be a bit more adventurous and add a bit
more colour to my wardrobe. My days of being overweight meant
I was richer! I have spent a fortune on clothes over the last
month or so but it is so lovely to put on clothes and look nice!
I also found it hard to keep up with everyone when I was so
unfit. I used to get terrible backache and aching hips walking a
short distance. I go to stay with a super-fit school friend who
goes to the Gym and is very particular about her diet and is
always rushing about everywhere. In the past I struggled to keep
up with her and would always be in agony and take days to get
over the visits. Now it is wonderful. Not only do I keep up with
her but also I find the times so much more enjoyable.
Motivation to Lose Weight
Christmas Day, 2003 someone commented in front of everyone
how fat I had become lately. I laughed with everyone else at the
time but when I went to bed I cried my eyes out. It was already
quite a hard day as it was my first Christmas without my dear
old Mum and being emotional anyway this was the final straw. In
January I decided that I had to make a new start. I went to the
Doctors and saw the nurse practitioner. I was worried I might
have an under active thyroid as my father suffered from it and
my daughter also does. The nurse really understood. I was
diagnosed with an under active thyroid. Suddenly there was a
reason why I had been struggling to lose weight and keep it off.
Once I started on the medication I just wanted to get on with
losing weight. I knew if I didn’t start it would become harder
as time went by. I was prepared for a long, slow haul. It was
hard at times but not impossible. It has taken 14 months and got
easier as I was nearing my goal. Something as simple as wearing
something new is a great boost to my motivation. I now have a
Gym membership which allows use of the gym, classes and the
swimming pool. It is one of the best investments and I use it
for some form of exercise nearly every day. Who would ever have
thought it?
Discovering Weight Loss Resources
Zest Magazine
How Weight Loss Resources Helps
I have found the site invaluable. It has kept me motivated
especially when I hit 3 months in the summer where my weight
loss stuck. Normally I would have given up. The food diary has
really helped me to educate eating habits healthwise as well as
keeping to the quota for weight loss. I think it is really
important to carry on with healthy eating habits once you get to
target and not go back to old, bad habits.
The support I have had from the boards really helps. I have
had a few bad patches over the past year. My kids both suffer
from ME and both have had relapses around their exam times. My
mother-in-law became ill and sadly died. These were times I
would normally have turned to food but with the support from the
boards and the great people at WLR I got through without turning
to food. I also enjoy reading the lighthearted messages on the
boards. I think we all make a great team, including the helpteam.
One of the biggest changes in my lifestyle is exercise. I
have always hated it and done anything to avoid it. I think this
stems from being an overweight child and always coming last in
everything. I now take exercise in some form everyday and what’s
more I discovered I have muscles! And stamina! When my son came
home from University at Christmas he told me I had got a bit
‘Obsessive’ over exercise. This really tickled me; I never
thought I would hear anyone saying that about me!
The Best of Weight Loss Resources
I use all areas of the site. I work from home and a lot of my
work is computer based so I do manage to have a sneaky look at
the message boards quite often.
Joanna's Tips for Losing Weight
Don’t ever give up! You are going to get bad days/weeks; it
happens! Just get straight back on it and limit the damage.
Make sure you fill in your diary accurately. It is very easy
to ‘forget’ odd items and these all add up.
Make sure you get exercise in some form as much as possible.
It gives you extra calories, boosts your metabolism and tones
your muscles losing inches. All those endorphins giving you
natural highs and what’s more it’s legal!!!
Use the message boards – Don’t go it alone. Everyone loves to
help and we are all a nosy lot so we enjoy hearing about your
day.
Keep at it! You will find when you lose weight it changes
your life. You will feel a different person. Promise you!
I have got more confidence; no more shrinking in the
background. People are more friendly. I think this is actually
due to the vibes you give off; you become more approachable, you
smile more often and people smile back!
Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer
To book a personal training session with Joanna in Caterham,
contact her at
joanna.chamberlain@ntlworld.com
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