Age: 44
Start Weight: 20 stone 5lb
Current Weight: 11 stone
Goal Weight: 10 stone
Weight Lost: 9 stone 5lb
Working to Rate of Loss: 2lbs per week
Slimming History
In the past, I have tried Rosemary Conley, Slimming World,
and Weight Watchers. I did find that Rosemary Conley's idea of
counting the calories combined with watching the fat intake had
the biggest impact on my approach to weight loss, and it is her
approach that I still base my food planner/diary on today. In
each of the above tried methods I regained all the weight lost
mainly because I couldn't afford to pay each week and they
weren't there when I needed them!
My eating habits began almost 30 years ago, after I left
school. I loved food and would eat anything I wanted, but
knowing nothing about calories and diet, began to reap the
rewards – weight gain!
I married at 18 and began a life with an alcoholic husband at
whose hands I suffered domestic violence for many, many years.
Several miscarriages later and a lot of money worries along the
way, I had joined the ranks of the obese. After ridding myself
of the unwanted baggage in my life, I was still left with the
problem of my weight.
Despite remarrying and having 3 lovely children, my weight
always seemed to be a minor concern to me. Each pregnancy was a
licence to eat whatever I wanted and in the quantities I wanted,
which were mega huge. Binge eating doesn’t seem appropriate for
the amount I ate. I went beyond that. For the first 10 years of
my second marriage I would eat in secret at any opportunity I
found to be alone. I would make excuses to go out and visit KFC,
Burger King, McDonalds, and Pizza Hut, all in the same evening.
Feeling sick beyond belief, I would go home feeling I had been
punished for things in a previous life.
The turn around began when I spent a while in a wheelchair
because I just couldn’t walk more than 10 steps without gasping
for breath. It broke my heart to have my son who was 10 years
old at the time struggling to push his mother who was by now
well over 20 stone around in it. I can’t believe now that I was
so selfish. I did begin at this point to want to do something
about it, but felt like I was in a cage desperate to get out but
not knowing how to do it.
Going to my first slimming club was a first step. That way I
had admitted I had a problem and wanted help. I tried several
over the course of a couple of years but due to time, cost and
the fact they were only once a week, fell by the way side after
a while with each. I did lose weight but usually gained it all
back if not a little more each time I stopped attending. Then,
after months of battling with myself I took control. I didn’t
want to go through life hating myself for what someone else had
done to me. I had a new life and family now and they were still
paying the price of a previous existence of mine. So, I began in
earnest on the Bank Holiday weekend of August 2003 to do
something about it.
I drew on what I had picked up at previous slimming groups, bought
every book going, surfed the net, did everything I could to
educate myself to what I needed to do. My first weigh in of 20
stone 5lbs should have been depressing, but at that point in my
life it really wasn’t. It was a starting point – not the
finishing post. I have made losing weight a priority, and I face
everyday as if on a mission. I want to achieve my goal of 10
stone and nothing on this earth will stop me.
I have learnt the hard way that it's not what you want in life
that matters, but how badly you want it, that determines whether or not you
succeed in getting it.
On Being Overweight…
I didn’t fully appreciate how being overweight was ruining my
life until I lost a lot of weight, and discovered the things I
can now do which were so restrictive before. Such as, not being
able to go on amusement rides with my children because of the
embarrassment of safety bars not closing, or even just going for
a simple walk because of the need to keep sitting down due to
breathlessness. Aching joints were another problem that stopped
me from doing normal things.
Motivation to Get Slim
There is no doubt on this – it is my children. I want to be
there for them (and their children, eventually) as long as
possible. The second motive is myself. I want to look good and
feel good, wear clothes in a style I choose, not what fits from
an outsize shop with little choice. I want to be proud of myself
and not hide in dark corners hoping no one notices me.
Discovering Weight Loss Resources
I first saw the site advertised in a slimming magazine and was drawn
to it while surfing the net.
How Weight Loss Resources Helps
Completing my weekly food planner and diary has made me far
more aware of the food that I eat. Knowing that if I want the
little “luxuries” of food, I can have them but I have to
earn them by doing exercise to gain the extra calories.
It certainly stops me raiding the cupboards/fridge on a whim.
The buzz I get from updating my weight loss chart makes me feel
so proud, motivating me for the coming week.
The Best of Slimming with Weight Loss Resources
Being there 24/7 is a must for me, being able to get
information when its needed, keeping my diary/planners updated,
knowing that my meals are healthily balanced and being able to
access the boards to benefit from the fantastic support that is
offered by everyone. The other members make this site work in
such a positive way with advice. They are always there to pick
you up on the bad days, offering a shoulder to cry on, and
sharing in the joy of everyone’s success. It’s almost like
having an extended family on hand 24 hours. Having access to the
food database takes a lot of the hassle out of keeping track of
the calorific values in food, and because food is constantly
being added, it has to be the most up to date calorie list ever.
Carolyne's Slimming Tips
- Weigh your food every time; estimating is a recipe for
disaster.
- Fill in your diary after each meal if possible. It enables
you to keep closer tabs on food intake.
- Do exercise in some shape or form even if you hate it like
I do. I am slowly becoming a convert to the fact it really
does make a difference. Honestly.
- Invest in a good pan so that you can dry fry meat, and
strain mince through a sieve after you have fried it, you will
be amazed at how much fat comes out.
- Always look for lower fat alternatives to ingredients such
as cream, cheese, and meat.
- Enjoy the learning process of a new healthier way of
eating; it will be a part of your life forever.
- Always be proud of what you achieve in the way of weight
loss, be it 1lb or 100lbs.
Good luck to everyone who is a member of this site, you all
deserve to reach your desired target, and I am confident that you
will. Never give up trying.
Try Weight Loss Resources
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