Success Story: Carolyne

Carolyne, Age 44

Start Weight	20st 5lbs
Current Weight	11st
Goal Weight	10st
Weight Lost	9st 5lbs
Working to Rate of Loss	2lbs per week

Slimming History

In the past, I have tried Rosemary Conley, Slimming World, and Weight Watchers.

I did find that Rosemary Conley's idea of counting the calories combined with watching the fat intake had the biggest impact on my approach to weight loss, and it is her approach that I still base my food planner/diary on today.

In each of the above tried methods I regained all the weight lost mainly because I couldn't afford to pay each week and they weren't there when I needed them!

My eating habits began almost 30 years ago, after I left school.

"I loved food and would eat anything I wanted, but knowing nothing about calories and diet, began to reap the rewards – weight gain!"

I married at 18 and began a life with an alcoholic husband at whose hands I suffered domestic violence for many, many years.

Several miscarriages later and a lot of money worries along the way, I had joined the ranks of the obese.

After ridding myself of the unwanted baggage in my life, I was still left with the problem of my weight.

Despite remarrying and having 3 lovely children, my weight always seemed to be a minor concern to me.

"Each pregnancy was a licence to eat whatever I wanted and in the quantities I wanted, which were mega huge." 

Binge eating doesn’t seem appropriate for the amount I ate. I went beyond that.

For the first 10 years of my second marriage I would eat in secret at any opportunity I found to be alone. I would make excuses to go out and visit KFC, Burger King, McDonalds, and Pizza Hut, all in the same evening.

Feeling sick beyond belief, I would go home feeling I had been punished for things in a previous life.

The turn around began when I spent a while in a wheelchair because I just couldn’t walk more than 10 steps without gasping for breath.

It broke my heart to have my son who was 10 years old at the time struggling to push his mother who was by now well over 20 stone around in it.

I can’t believe now that I was so selfish.

"I did begin at this point to want to do something about it, but felt like I was in a cage desperate to get out but not knowing how to do it."

Going to my first slimming club was a first step. That way I had admitted I had a problem and wanted help.

I tried several over the course of a couple of years but due to time, cost and the fact they were only once a week, fell by the way side after a while with each.

I did lose weight but usually gained it all back if not a little more each time I stopped attending.

Then, after months of battling with myself I took control. I didn’t want to go through life hating myself for what someone else had done to me.

I had a new life and family now and they were still paying the price of a previous existence of mine.

"So, I began in earnest on the Bank Holiday weekend of August 2003 to do something about it."

I drew on what I had picked up at previous slimming groups, bought every book going, surfed the net, did everything I could to educate myself to what I needed to do.

My first weigh in of 20 stone 5lbs should have been depressing, but at that point in my life it really wasn’t.

It was a starting point – not the finishing post.

"I have made losing weight a priority, and I face everyday as if on a mission. I want to achieve my goal of 10 stone and nothing on this earth will stop me."

I have learnt the hard way that it's not what you want in life that matters, but how badly you want it, that determines whether or not you succeed in getting it.

On Being Overweight…

I didn’t fully appreciate how being overweight was ruining my life until I lost a lot of weight, and discovered the things I can now do which were so restrictive before.

Such as, not being able to go on amusement rides with my children because of the embarrassment of safety bars not closing, or even just going for a simple walk because of the need to keep sitting down due to breathlessness.

Aching joints were another problem that stopped me from doing normal things.

Motivation to Get Slim

There is no doubt on this – it is my children.

I want to be there for them (and their children, eventually) as long as possible.

The second motive is myself.

"I want to look good and feel good, wear clothes in a style I choose, not what fits from an outsize shop with little choice." 

I want to be proud of myself and not hide in dark corners hoping no one notices me.

Discovering Weight Loss Resources

I first saw the site advertised in a slimming magazine and was drawn to it while surfing the net.

How Weight Loss Resources Helps

Completing my weekly food planner and diary has made me far more aware of the food that I eat.

"Knowing that if I want the little “luxuries” of food, I can have them but I have to earn them by doing exercise to gain the extra calories." 

It certainly stops me raiding the cupboards/fridge on a whim. The buzz I get from updating my weight loss chart makes me feel so proud, motivating me for the coming week.

The Best of Slimming with Weight Loss Resources

Being there 24/7 is a must for me, being able to get information when its needed, keeping my diary/planners updated, knowing that my meals are healthily balanced and being able to access the boards to benefit from the fantastic support that is offered by everyone.

"The other members make this site work in such a positive way with advice." 

They are always there to pick you up on the bad days, offering a shoulder to cry on, and sharing in the joy of everyone’s success.

"It’s almost like having an extended family on hand 24 hours." 

Having access to the food database takes a lot of the hassle out of keeping track of the calorific values in food, and because food is constantly being added, it has to be the most up to date calorie list ever.

Carolyne's Slimming Tips

• Weigh your food every time; estimating is a recipe for disaster.
• Fill in your diary after each meal if possible. It enables you to keep closer tabs on food intake.
• Do exercise in some shape or form even if you hate it like I do. I am slowly becoming a convert to the fact it really does make a difference. Honestly.
• Invest in a good pan so that you can dry fry meat, and strain mince through a sieve after you have fried it, you will be amazed at how much fat comes out.
• Always look for lower fat alternatives to ingredients such as cream, cheese, and meat.
• Enjoy the learning process of a new healthier way of eating; it will be a part of your life forever.
• Always be proud of what you achieve in the way of weight loss, be it 1lb or 100lbs.

Good luck to everyone who is a member of this site, you all deserve to reach your desired target, and I am confident that you will. Never give up trying.