Success Story: Emma

Emma, Age 23, Height 5ft 8in

Start Weight	12st 8lbs
Current Weight	10st
Goal Weight	10st
Weight Lost	2st 8lbs
Working to Rate of Loss	2lbs per week, then 1lb a week
Time Taken	4 months

Dieting History

Have not really ever tried a strict diet. The weight has been creeping on slowly since I went to Uni when I was 18.

Although having said that I have tried cutting down on sweets/chocolate/beer etc, but have never really managed to stick to it for any length of time.

Have you lost weight before and regained the weight?

No, but I had always been a slim child and when I went to University I was a size 8/10.

"Unfortunately the curse of University struck, and lots of beer, drunken kebabs, and a generally bad diet helped me to gain around 2.5/3st over the 3 years I was there."

I have now been graduated from Uni for 2 years and until now had not managed to shift the weight.

How being overweight has affected you…

My weight had not really affected my life dramatically.

"Having said that, I have been known to stand in front of the mirror for several hours trying on every outfit in my wardrobe before a night out trying to decide what makes me look less fat!"

Then ending up settling for jeans and a black top (very boring).

I think that what I am trying to say is that my weight never stopped me doing what I wanted to do.

I was never really that happy about the way I looked. I was less confident than I used to be. I think before I started at WLR, I really didn’t like what I saw in the mirror.

Motivation to Diet

I have to say it was the way I looked mainly. I just wanted to be able to wear the clothes that I used to wear when I was 18 and feel confident wearing them.

Also, I was beginning to worry about the weight getting out of control and as I have PCOS, I know that it is important to keep my weight down.

Discovering Weight Loss Resources

I think the same way as most people here. I was searching for a calorie counter on the Internet saw the site, signed up for the trial…and as they say the rest is history!

How Weight Loss Resources Helps

The main thing that this site has done for me is help to reinforce the link between food and exercise.

"We all know that the more we exercise we do the fitter we become, but I had never really considered it as the more exercise I do the more food I can eat."

Now I find that I can eat (and drink) a lot more of the foods that I like because of the exercise that I do.

Exercise has played a really big part in my weight loss, and I also realise now that I couldn’t have done it without it.

I don’t think anyone can stick to just 1100 calories a day – all you would be able to eat is ryvita and cucumber all day!

I hate to harp on about the virtues of exercise but it really works and not only does it give you more calories to munch your way through, but it also helps you to tone your body as it shrinks allowing you to look and feel better!!!!

The Best of Weight Loss Resources

I have to say that I do use the food and exercise diaries the most… but I have to admit that I am a serial lurker on the boards.

I don’t post much but always spend time reading the messages that other people post. Some of the advice that people give out there is sooooo useful!

Emma's Calorie Counting Tips

1. Make sure that you log EVERYTHING in your food diary, and I mean everything, even that bit of pizza you had from your OH’s/kid's/friend's plate. This is really important as it allows you to look back and see where you are using up cals that you perhaps would not have considered. It is really surprising how many cals you can go over by like this. But if you write them down they are accounted for, and you can see what you need to work on.
2. EXERCISE – and make sure that you log into your exercise diary. I love the feeling I get when I have been out for a 10 mile run and see the total number of calories that I have to eat in a day – and it makes that pint of beer in the pub afterward not look so bad.
3. Use the message boards …there is some really good advice out there!
4. Really think about this as a lifestyle change and not a diet, and it really makes it easier to stick to.

"One thing I have never done while I have been losing weight is deny myself anything."

If I want a bar of chocolate (much more likely a pint of beer or 4), I have them. I just make sure that I log them all into my diary, and if I have gone over calories, I try and do some exercise to get some of them back.

I really think you can’t be a saint all of the time, but one thing that you can be is accountable to yourself.