Megan’s Weight Loss Success Story

AKA "mlkirsten" on Weight Loss Resources

About Megan

I first joined this website as I had been in recovery last year from an eating disorder and I couldn’t get the hang of eating normal size portions as I had honestly forgotten what it was like to eat normally. I put on about 3 and a half stone bringing me up to 11 stone at my highest.

It got to June this year and I was so depressed because nothing fit me and I felt horrible. My husband of three years and I decided to join the gym and start living more healthily.
Sitting at a desk all day really didn’t do me any favours in terms of getting the weight off. I joined a yoga studio and did classes on my lunch break, often going to the gym in the evening as well.

What diets (if any) have you tried in the past?

I hadn’t really done any proper diets, just not eating very much!

Please comment on your experiences of trying these diets

Living my life binging and purging took a massive toll on my health, my relationships and life in general. I knew I couldn’t carry on living the way I was and that it certainly was not going to do me any favours in the long run.

Tell us how your weight has affected you?

I found it difficult being heavier as I was so slim for so long before hand. I found people weren’t very nice about it (in fact a colleague said “You’ve gotten really fat!”). I just didn’t feel like myself.

What has been your main motivation to lose weight?

My main motivation was not to lose weight, but to be healthy in body and mind. During my therapy we used food diaries to look at patterns in eating and the emotional aspect. This was a tool I found hugely helpful then, and now, coupled with the forum and the recipe database.

Which tools and resources on WLR do you find most valuable?

For me, I really enjoyed the Holiday Countdown challenge, having a weekly goal set for me really helped me think of the struggle to lose weight as a short term issue.

The food database is amazing; it made totting everything up really easy! I also use the my recipe section a lot as I often cook in bulk, and so I could make the food, separate portions and not have to work out what each individual portion was in calories.

Why do you think WLR has helped you lose weight where other diets have failed?

I think the focus being on eating healthily and exercising is key. People seem to forget that it is basic science. Eat slightly less, exercise more, you WILL see results. Most diets seem to be quick fixes as opposed to changing your attitude and lifestyle.

Try WLR's tools for yourself

Calorie counting for weight loss is easy with the tools in WLR. You can use the information on Weight Loss Resources to count how many calories you need to consume each day and how many you are actually eating. Try it free for 24 hours.

Have you struggled at points in your weight loss journey? Experienced a weight loss plateau? What has kept you motivated?

It’s clear to see on my weight loss chart where I struggled, for 2 weeks I lost no weight. That was when my mother in law came to stay for a month and I really was feeling strained and eating and drinking more than I had been.

I think it really helped me when things weren’t easy, because I could pinpoint exactly what went wrong.

Since losing weight can you give examples of how your life has changed?

I have more energy for things and I have started new hobbies. Things I felt uncomfortable doing before when I was heavier.

Exercise routines adopted

I do yoga 3 times or so a week, as well as trapeze once or twice a week and I will go to the gym 3 times a week doing running and weights.

What do you love about your body now?

I have amazing muscle tone now, everything is much more defined.

Megan's tips and hints for weight loss:

For me, it has been a long, hard battle to get to where I am. A year ago I was barely eating and vomiting multiple times a day.

I then went off the deep end eating far too much. I am so pleased that I am now able to eat a normal, healthy meal and keep my weight healthy.

Megan's* Vital Statistics

	Before	Now
Weight	11st	8st 10lb
BMI	26	21.6
Body Fat	29%	24.3%
Chest	33"	29"
Waist	29"	26"
Hips	39.5"	36"