Blanka's 2 and a half Stone Weight Loss Success Story

Blanka, Age 37, Height 5ft 7in

Start Weight	12st 7lbs
Current Weight	10st
Goal Weight	11st 5½lbs (to get to a healthy BMI)
Weight Lost	2st 7lbs
Working to Rate of Loss	2lbs a week then 1lb a week
Time Taken	36 weeks

About Blanka

My job brings with it a variety of locations and working hours.  My partner is a part-time DJ and we spend a lot of our spare time attending music clubs and festivals. 

On top of this, I just finished my executive MBA course this spring, which added an average of 15 – 20 hours per week of studying to my already busy schedule.

"With all this fun, there was precious little time for routine in my life and my weight slowly crept up over the years."

I live with my partner of 9 years, and we share our love of food and socialising. 

One of the ways I like to relax is cooking.  I do make most of our meals from scratch, and they are usually fairly healthy, but I’ve always made a bit too much, and we would usually end up eating two portions of each dinner. 

"It wasn’t till I started to use WLR that I realised that what we considered two portions was more like 3-4 dinners each."

We treated ourselves to at least one meal out per week and also enjoyed drinks, be it wine with dinner or pretty much a binge of cocktails and shots on our nights out.

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

I tried WW many years ago, and have done reasonably well on the old system, but never stuck with it for too long.

I re-joined at the start of this year for a couple of weeks, but the new points system didn’t work for me at all.

I found in the past that going with a basic sensible approach of eating healthily and exercising always worked for me, and helped me get back to the top of healthy weight range when I focused on it, but it never lasted too long as a reason to pause - such as a bout of illness or a big social occasion - always came up and when it did, a brief pause inevitably turned into a full stop.

Tell us how your weight has affected your lifestyle/mood?

I never let my weight stop me enjoying my life, but I did not like my body and felt unhappy about it on the inside.

"I hated looking at myself in the mirror and I did have the occasional wardrobe dramas whilst getting ready to go out."  

On those occasions, I would end up with several rushed outfit changes in the last minutes before leaving the house, feeling that nothing looked good enough.

What has been your main motivation to lose weight?

This time round, something just clicked.  Having submitted my final dissertation, I felt I needed a new project to focus on and decided that project was going to be me.

"I realised that this was going to be a long journey and any changes had to be permanent, rather than a quick fix."  

So I started slowly on my own, hoping to get to a healthy BMI.  I managed to lose about 3 pounds, and then a friend recommended WLR, and I haven’t looked back.

I still have my busy lifestyle, I still cook and I still go out.  But I make sure my calories are balanced over the week. 

I cook the right portion sizes, opt for spirits with diet mixers on nights out and make sure I fit some exercise in every week.

Which tools and resources do you use regularly on WLR? Which tools do you find invaluable?

"I log absolutely everything I eat and drink.  No excuses, no hiding from it.  Even on holidays and after nights out."

At home, I weigh and measure everything.  If I’m out and about, I make estimates.  I make notes of things as I go on a memo function on my phone, then key it all in when I get back. 

On the odd night when my OH makes dinner, he tells me everything he’s put in, so that I can log it.

"I find that being completely honest with myself is the only way.  I then make sure that any blow-outs are fixed by a combination of cutting down for a few days and exercising more."

I use the forums, and read them pretty much every day.  I try to post my results on weigh-in days each week.

Whilst I’ve been here, we have had 2 challenges – the Holiday one and the Christmas one.

I’ve joined both and religiously stuck to all the rules.

For the Christmas one, I was only 6 or so pounds from my final target, and decided that doing ‘just’ the challenge was not a challenge enough, so I started my own version – ‘Doing it the HARD way’ – which saw me and a surprising number of followers doing all 6 challenges each week for 6 weeks in a row.  It was tough, but good fun and more inches dropped off as a result.

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Have you purchased/used any products/fitness equipment that has helped you with your goals?

I already had a cross trainer, DVDs and some equipment at home, so I just dusted those off. 

My lifestyle doesn’t really support attending gym classes, but I find I enjoy working out at home. 

"Following the challenges has helped me kick start this again, and I’m already looking forward to the next challenge."

I have purchased an HRM, having gone for the one most recommended on the forums and have taken to wearing it for my walks.

It’s been very rewarding to see just how much of a difference to my allowance a relatively short walk can make.

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

I like the simplicity and the common sense approach and the fact that nothing is out of bounds. 

I’ve eaten more cake in the last 5 months than I have in the last 5 years!  

"The website is really easy to use, both from my laptop and my phone, so there’s no excuse for me not to log everything, even whilst travelling."

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

I’ve reached out for help a couple of times through the forums, and both the help team and the other members have come up with invaluable advice and encouragement.

"I also knew from reading the forums that plateaus just happen, and if you work through them, they eventually give in."

The first time I hit a plateau, the Help team advised me to actually eat more. The shock!  And it worked a treat.

Now I know if I hit a plateau, I just need to shake things up and keep going.

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

I have a whole new wardrobe.  I went from size 14 (tight) to a size 10 (loose).  My weightloss was so fast, I flew through size 12 in a space of couple of weeks, which was just amazing. 

"I feel so much more confident in myself, and love getting dressed every day, even for work."

My OH has never had a problem with my weight before, but has been amazingly supportive throughout my weightloss journey, and continues to pay me compliments on how great I look.

I have more energy and feel healthier and stronger, mentally and physically.  It feels like I now ‘fit in my body’.  

Have you adopted any Exercise routines?

I have rediscovered my love of walking, and now find excuses to walk.  Including every Sunday morning, when I used to either get groceries delivered or drive to a supermarket to get weekly supplies.

I now put my trainers on a take a brisk walk to the supermarket and back, getting fresh supplies for a nice Sunday roast and wine for me and OH (yes, we still eat well, just in a more controlled fashion).

I use my cross-trainer and DVDs pretty much every week, and now take my resistance band on my overnight work stays, to get some exercise done in the hotel rooms.

What do you love about your body now?

I have my waist back, but still have curves. 

"But most importantly, my body feels strong and flexible and I no longer get tired all the time, despite keeping up with my often hectic lifestyle."

	Before	After
BMI	26.9	21.9
Body Fat	28.7	22.7
Chest	41in	39in
Waist	32in	27in
Hip	41in	37in

Blanka’s Tips

My one tip is to be completely honest with yourself. 

If you ate it or drank it – then it needs to go in the log. 

If the scales show an up – then put them in too.  If you don’t, you’re only fooling yourself and the results will still be what they will be. 

"And the key thing – keep at it – it works!"