Success Story: Pete

AKA "Pde27" on Weight Loss Resources

Weight Loss History

none!

Have you lost weight before and regained the weight?

Tried, a bit pathetically, a couple of years ago, but only lost half a stone and rapidly put it back on - and more.

How being overweight has affected you…

It has taken me 14 years to become as seriously overweight as I was. I used to cycle competitively, and so, whilst being larger, I was able to burn off what I eat. However, when I quit, around 11 years ago, I didn't stop eating the large calorie consumption I needed. So the pounds piled on.

The last few years I have been extremely lethargic, lazy, with never any energy to do anything for example playing with my kids. This is despite cycling to work - I might have had daily exercise, but my diet was truly awful.

Being able to balance a full pint on my belly was a bit of a party trick!

I was always chubby at school (I didn't get into sport until I started cycling when I left school) so was used to being ridiculed, so it never really sank in.

Motivation to Lose Weight

1. Going surfing in the summer and peeling the wetsuit on and off....
2. Friends commenting on their weight and how they wanted to lose weight....
3. Most important driver - arranging to pick up my sister in law and husband at Heathrow for their Christmas return from NZ, and contemplating their faces as they spot a new slimline me!

Discovering Weight Loss Resources

Surfing the web looking for a calorie counter. Took the free trial, and couldn't believe how comprehensive the database was.

How Weight Loss Resources Helps

I basically used the food diary for a few months. Having the responsibility of writing down everything that passes your lips, and then discovering the calorie contribution of it was scary sometimes!

But this meant that I quickly learnt what I could and couldn't eat, and was able to change my pattern of eating to be able to pick up calories when I needed them and yet eating low-cal things when I needed to stave off the hunger pangs. I always believed that to lose weight all I needed to do was eat anything with less than 3% fat in it. I didn't make any association with energy in and out! No wonder I never actually lost anything.

The message boards have been an interesting read too - I am not a prolific poster, but like to read and learn from other peoples comments.

The Best of Weight Loss Resources

I did use the food diary every day for a couple of months, but have been trying, reasonably successfully, to go it alone to see how much I have learnt.

I also use the goals page as it keeps a great record of the last few months!

Pete's Tips for Losing Weight

1. When you have a bad day, pick yourself up and move on. There is absolutely no gain in beating yourself up about it. If you do, a bad day turns into a bad week...
2. Be absolutely honest in the food diary. Spend some time analysing food portions if necessary so your estimates are more accurate.

Pete's Vital Statistics

	Start	Now
Weight	14st 5lb	11st 4lb