From 'Heffalump' to 'Lucylicious'
Lucy Calorie Counts a 2st 1lb Weight Loss

Lucy embraced the concept of WLR to eat less and move more. "I have gone from being someone who did no exercise to someone who feels horrible if I haven't." A weight loss of over 2st has resulted.

From 'Heffalump' to 'Lucylicious'

Lucy, Age 20, Height 5ft 4½in
Start Weight 12st (168lbs)
Current Weight 9st 3lbs (139lbs)
Goal Weight 9st 3lbs (139lbs)
Weight Lost 2st 1lb (29lbs)
Working to Rate of Loss 1lb per week

About Lucy

I work as a commercial administrator for a well known theme park and though I work in such a large and active environment, I spend most of my time in the office, though I don't spend all day sitting down!

I'm single and I still live at home with my family which at first was a bit difficult as we all eat the same meal and sit down together.

"My mum also joined WLR shortly after I did and so she was very supportive in helping weigh and measure my food."

Weight Loss History

I went to Weight Watchers with my mum and my aunt. I started at about 10 stone 11 and lost about a stone and got to 9 stone 11 and got stuck at that weight.

The group closed and I went back to eating rubbish again and put it back on and more!

Weight Watchers didn't encourage me to eat healthier options or do more exercise.

How being overweight has affected you…

I definitely had a severe lack of self confidence when I had more weight on me. This then made me feel upset and grumpy and not much fun to be around!

I've also suffered with acne for the majority of my teen years and all the junk I was eating wasn't helping it, it probably made it worse.

I was overweight and spotty and so I saw myself as ugly which then led to the complete drop in confidence.

Motivation to Lose Weight

So many things motivate me to lose weight!

In the beginning it was mainly dress size and body size, as it is for most people!

"For the first time in my life my face looked really round and chubby and I had a double chin coming on and that mortified me!"

I couldn't buy any knee high boots that I wanted all winter because none would fit. Not even the slouchy boots. They wouldn't even get up my leg, let alone slouch!

I felt horrible about myself and I felt horrible inside as well.

Now my motivation is that I know how much happier I am and how much better I look now I have lost the weight!

How WLR Helps

Weight Loss Resources helps you with something which seems so simple but so many people go about it the wrong way - eat less, move more.

"You don't have to calculate anything yourself because it does all the calorie counting for you!"

If you buy food when you're out and about you don't have to save the wrapper because you know that it will be on the food database.

It also takes into account your weight and your speed/intensity for exercising - it doesn't have a 'one size fits all' approach and that's what makes it so good. We're all different and we all require different things!

The Best of Weight Loss Resources

Everything! Obviously the food and exercise diaries are the most important part.

You know how many calories you're consuming and how many calories are being expended so you can get the right balance.

"I find the calories history report really helpful because I like to average out over a weekly basis and I can look back and view previous weeks."

The goals and results tab has loads of information including your body fat percentage, weight, measurements and a graph which shows you how far you've come!

The message boards are great too. Everyone's so friendly and willing to help.

I'm more of a lurker than a poster but I try and help others where I can. I post about my runs on the runners board and try and join in the challenges that are set too!

Lifestyle Changes

I've gone from being someone that did no exercise and was terrible at PE at school to someone who is in the routine of doing exercise and I feel horrible if I haven't done it!

"I also spend a lot more money on clothes because they look so much better on me now and I've had to chuck loads of my old clothes way. I'm never going to be wearing them again!"

Achieving in one area of your life also helps inspire you and motivate you to achieve in other areas of your life.

Losing weight has not been particularly easy for me and has been very slow going, but it's made me see that big changes take a long time and you'll get there eventually if you stick with it and that's a mindset to transfer to all areas of life.

Diet Changes

I've tried new foods since being with WLR. For example pumpkin seeds, all kinds of nuts, blueberries, mango, passion-fruit and more.

I also drink between 1.5-2l of water a day and barely any fizzy drinks, when it used to be the other way round! I used to hate water and now it's practically the only thing I drink!

I used to eat coco pops for breakfast and now I eat Weetabix.

I used to be able to eat 3 chocolate bars in a row every day and now I don't really eat proper chocolate bars anymore - only snack size versions and only one snack size a day maximum!

There are still things that I won't eat and I haven't really given up anything. I just eat smaller amounts of them!

Exercise Changes

Running is my main form of exercise and I really enjoy it!

I even have a fair amount of running kit and now own a Garmin too. It's an important part of my life and makes me feel so much better about myself and makes me feel like I'm really doing something to help my body.

I hated running at school, yet now I do it 3-4 times a week!

Running started 4 months ago I couldn't run for even 2 minutes and now I can run for over an hour, go to a running club and run races!

It definitely gets the endorphins pumping and I've really seen a major change in my body since I started running.

Even at a heavier weight I was slimmer than I was when I was at goal on Weight Watchers!

I also try and do weight training once or twice a week as I know it's good for burning fat, helping your shape and will benefit my other exercise too!

 

Lucy Now

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

Seeing everything statistically just clicked with me.

"Seeing in my food diary exactly how many more calories I can eat if I exercise is definitely a great motivator."

I know that a run for an hour will give me another 300 calories to use!

It's helped me understand that if I go over on the calories for one day it's not the end of the world.

A look at the calories history report and I know that I can just cut my calories down a bit each day for the rest of the week to make up for it.

"On the opposite end, I can plan in advance and save calories if I know I'm going out somewhere that may require extra calories!"

You learn the difference in calories and what a difference something seemingly harmless can make to your calorie quota.

We had these little Lindt bunny chocolates at work - 10 of those was equivalent to over 500 calories. I could eat dinner for that amount of calories!

WLR just shows you plainly and simply what's coming in vs what's going out.

No fancy calculations or special days, you can eat whatever you want as long as it's in your daily calorie quota and still lose weight!

It just helps you really understand what's going on and so inspires you to make better choices in life.

Lucy's Calorie Counting Tips

Don't stick with trying to lose 2lbs a week if you're struggling or if you're not losing anything.

I tried it. I found it hard and also found that I was struggling to lose any weight. When I went back to 1lb a week loss, the weight started coming off again.

"Losing weight isn't easy but it's not supposed to be about starving yourself or trying really hard not to eat. If you deprive yourself, you'll just end up bingeing and then feeling guilty."

Don't say that you're starting again tomorrow! If you slip up, you slip up - there's no need to start again, just carry on and take each day as it comes.

Make yourself aware of what makes you eat and recognise the warning signs!

If you like to snack, prepare yourself with low cal snacks; if you're an emotional eater, find another outlet; if you eat to celebrate, find another way of treating yourself. Sometimes it's about tackling the root of the problem.

Don't let it completely rule your life! Not many people actually know that I've trying to lose weight.

They can't tell by what I eat because I still eat things like chocolate mousses and cake; just in smaller quantities and I'll look for a lower calorie version.

Be confident that you can make the right food choices. If you want to have pizza, just understand that you'll have to find a way to balance things out afterwards.

Start a Free Trial Today

Lots of people have achieved their weight loss success using the tools, information and support that WLR has to offer. But don't take our word for it – take free trial and see for yourself.

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* Note: The success stories published on Weight Loss Resources are written by WLR members, past and present, telling their own stories in their own words. As you will see if you read more than one or two of them, everyone's story is different and they have reached their success from a variety of starting points and lost weight at varying rates. Individual results may vary.

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