Success Story: Amanda

AKA "POMANDA" on Weight Loss Resources

Fears about her health motivated Amanda to lose weight and adopt a healthy, balanced diet

Weight Loss History

I’ve been overweight since birth so have been on lots, the ‘only eat what I like diet’ in particular! I remember the dietitian prescribing sausages! The F Plan, Weight Watchers, Cambridge diet, Slimming World, Calorie Counting and before WLR Weight Watchers online.

Have you lost weight before and regained the weight?

Yes with the F Plan I managed to get down to 8st at age 19 but couldn’t maintain because I hadn’t learnt how! Then again when I was about 26 with the same result.

How being overweight has affected you…

Before joining WLR I was really unwell. I couldn’t walk to the end of the road without pain; I was depressed and totally unmotivated. Generally being overweight has affected my confidence and made me want to be invisible. My lifestyle was sedentary by necessity. Other people were generally ok although I have had the odd couple of ‘yobs’ calling me names which was obviously very upsetting.

Motivation to Lose Weight

I don’t want to feel so ill anymore. I want my children to see me slim and to feel proud of me. I am very aware that if I don’t lose the weight I could die. There is a family history of strokes and heart problems and I suffer from high blood pressure myself. It is very necessary to lose weight.

Discovering Weight Loss Resources

I was going to make a final attempt to lose weight by calorie counting and I was looking on the Internet for the calories to various foods when I found WLR. I was so impressed that I joined the 24 hour trial. This was a big deal as I was quite hard up at the time and it was great not to have to pay before I knew if I liked it! I joined up straight away when I saw how helpful the site is.

How Weight Loss Resources Helps

I can honestly say that WLR has saved my life. I have learned how to balance my diet which I never did before. I rarely feel hungry now. My binge eating has virtually stopped and I have learned the importance of exercise which I never did before! So far I have lost 2stone and 6lbs and my moods have balanced out and I have much more energy. I have found great support, inspiration and motivation from other members and the boards. It’s great to have advice from people who are or have been in the same situation.

The Best of Weight Loss Resources

I fill in my food diary everyday and the exercise diary. Now I’ve got used to the site I feel confident enough to post messages to other members to try to support them and have found that their messages have helped me to keep on the straight and narrow.

Amanda's Tips for Losing Weight

Log on to the site often to become familiar quickly.

Use the nutrition information to balance your diet. I particularly benefit from seeing how much fruit and vegetables I am eating throughout the day. I eat loads now when I never used to eat any before!

I think that balancing my diet has helped my mood swings and I’m on much more of an even keel now.

Also read the boards to keep yourself motivated and ask for help if you need it or are feeling down.

I know a lot of people say ‘If I can do it, anyone can’ but it’s true. Ok, it’s not easy but armed with the right information and support that WLR provides it is possible. Keep at it, you won’t lose overnight so lower your expectations. Even ½ lb loss is GOOD. Don’t put yourself down – even maintaining your weight is good because it’s not gaining!

Even people with a medical condition can lose weight if done sensibly as WLR recommends. I was told by Doctors that I would have to practically eat nothing in order to lose weight as I have a disorder that makes it harder but I have managed with WLR.

Take your weight loss journey in small steps and try not to dwell on the longer picture. Be positive and don’t give up!