Colette's Weight Loss Success Story

Colette, Age 58, Height 5ft 5in

Start Weight	10st 7lbs
Current Weight	8st 7lbs
Goal Weight	8st 8lbs
Weight Lost	2st
Working to Rate of Loss	2lbs then 1lb per week
Time Taken	18 weeks

About Colette

I am basically a very happy person who loves life and people. I had a very happy childhood being one of 7 girls and this has carried on into my adult life. 

I married young to my childhood sweetheart in SA when I was 21 and have three beautiful children, one son and two daughters.

I have been an avid sports person ever since I can remember – sports captain in my school years – my passion was hockey but also loved cross country, 800 metres and swimming. 

"In my adult life it was squash and now in senior adult life it’s gym, biking and swimming. Being 50 is brilliant!"

My marriage ended in 2001 after 26 very happy years. It was very amicable and we are still firm friends. However I experienced living alone for the first time at the age of 48. It was a huge jolt. 

I generally take things firmly by the horns and hate to be seen to fail. A little bit of a perfectionist really. 

This new dramatic change in life style got the better of me and it took me five years to actually feel good about it and then to finally enjoy. 

I had lots of rocky aspects along the way including an abusive relationship which went on far too long. 

I found myself with no energy emotionally or physically and my sporting activities completely ground to a halt. And this was when I gained weight – it was gradual but it happened.

I enjoy food and white wine. I didn’t really have to ‘watch’ what I ate prior to this as I was so sporty. 

To be honest I have always been a fairly healthy eater anyway, preferring vegetarian foods although I have never been a complete vegetarian (love chilli and chicken and yummy Sunday roasts!).

I met my present partner three years ago. He bowled me over. He lives with me now and although I had inevitably become fiercely independent, he respects that and that is paramount to the success of our relationship. 

We have enjoyed lovely holidays and beautiful meals out all over the place. And of course the weight continued to rise … with no exercise … (except for the obvious).

I found WLR by accident, trawling the sites for quick ways of losing weight (no quick way!).

"I signed up instantly for the trial and never looked back." 

I only had 1100 calories a day and being a wine lover too (all those calories!) I knew instinctively I had to get back my love of exercise for those extra calories.  

I brought myself a cross trainer. I used this religiously every morning along with stomach exercises and hand weights at home. I just got up earlier and got straight into my gym kit and did it all before work.

Obviously week-ends away I use to simply forget about it. 

"It became part of my daily routine like cleaning my teeth!" 

Now I have reached goal, I still use this regularly but have about 2/3 mornings off a week. I have since started biking with my partner, which we love doing over week-ends and last week-end I managed my first 20 km.

I work as a Receptionist for a local family business whose success has been phenomenal since I joined them 10 years ago when my marriage ended. Prior to this I always worked, but part time, whilst bringing up my children.

Mainly as a Secretary or PA. I love my present job – we all work hard but play hard too! It’s quite a sedentary job so I knew I would have to start up the exercising to compensate for this. 

What diets have you tried in the past?

I tried Slimming World very briefly. I stayed with them for about 4-6 months and managed to lose nearly a stone. 

But I got so bored with the weekly meetings and it all soon became too much of a chore! Within 6 weeks of leaving I had put on that stone!

Tell us how your weight has affected you

My life hasn’t really changed – but the comments I do get are really lovely, especially from my daughters (aged 30 and 27). 

"I had a wardrobe of clothes I couldn’t fit into and now it’s like having a brand new set of clothes all over again."

My partner thinks I keep buying new clothes but in fact it’s ones I hadn’t worn prior to meeting him that had been sitting in the back wardrobe for the past three years! 

My old faithful size 10s started coming out and my 12/14 replaced them.

What has been your main motivation to lose weight?

In January this year my partner booked a cruise for us both. He has always known I have wanted to go to the Greek Isle of Santorini. 

Our cruise was visiting this island on June 6, my 58 birthday.

We were leaving for our cruise on June 3rd. Boom! That was it really! My incentive - I had five months to lose 2 stone. 

Which tools and resources on WLR do you find most valuable?

The food diary.

"I logged everything everyday without fail. The most important tool ever implemented! Forget cheating, there’s just no point."

I have had the most wonderful inspiration from other members – Ange, Tracey, Sam, Dee, Adam. I trawled the Maintainers page daily for snippets of their threads and invaluable advice. 

"I loved it and laughed much and sometimes even got the Kleenex out!"

I loved the copious amount of delicious recipes shared by other members and the Help team. A new revolution in cooking. A new hobby!

Try Weight Loss Resources tools for yourself

Weight loss is easy with the tools in WLR. Like Colette, you can use the information on Weight Loss Resources to count how many calories you need to consume each day and how many you are actually eating. Try it free for 24 hours.

Have you purchased or used any products/fitness equipment that have helped to reach your goals?

• The Calorie, Carb & Fat Bible
• A cross trainer
• Bike

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

It is a slow process but honestly enjoyable.  I just had me to weigh every week and just me to make this work. 

But if I needed help I simply logged on to WLR at any time of day or night and it was there. Wonderful invention!

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

I just didn’t struggle. I enjoyed my journey!  I cannot reiterate that enough. I STS a few times which never bothered me but I never gained.

I remained focused all the way.  

I didn’t change my lifestyle – I ate out, I socialised, I went away weekends, etc. but I felt in control of everything that I consumed – it was my choice alone – and I would make allowances for extras by exercise and more exercise and choosing food wisely.

I know so many people do struggle and lose motivation and plateau. I read their heart wrenching posts and I felt for them all.

Exercise routines adopted

• Cross Trainer: 30 – 40 minutes, 5/6 times a week
• Stomach crunches: 10 minutes, 5/6 times a week
• Hand weights: 10 minutes, 5/6 times a weeks
• Biking at week-ends
• Swimming whenever near a pool

What do you love about your body now?

My slimness.

	Before	After
BMI	24.5	19.8
Body Fat	32.2	23.2
Chest	36	33
Waist	34	27
Hips	42	36

Colette's hints and tips

• You must WANT to lose the weight. Not for the dabblers!
• This is not a diet. Remove that word. This is a change of lifestyle for the better.
• Slowly does it, look at it as a long but fun and happy journey.
• Log everything, weigh everything, exercise and you will lose.
• Weigh only once a week
• I didn’t do this but in hind sight I would have taken lots of photos of pre, during and after – looking at these when feeling de-motivated must be a tremendous help.