Debbie Feels Happier in Her New Body :)

Debbie, Age 52, Height 5'4"

	Weight	Dress Size
Start	12 stone 1 lb	18
Current	10 stone	12/14
Loss	2 stone 1 lb	2-3 dress sizes
Time Taken	1 year

A bit about me

I am a 52 year old female. I have been married four years on 28th June - first time for me and my husband. We have no children, and I’m very close to my parents who live close to us.

I enjoy reading, listening to music, knitting, doing 5D diamond pictures, and lots of social activities like going to the cinema and theatre, out for meals and drinks with friends, and playing bingo in clubs.

My job is an accounts payable administrator. The nature of the job means I am sat down all day, 9 till 5, Monday to Friday. I have done this type of job since I was 17.

Due to the type of job I do, the social activities like going out for meals, I gained weight. Plus I used to snack and not eat proper meals- I didn’t eat a lot but I ate the wrong foods. All this and not doing any exercise all added to my weight.

Diets I’ve tried

The diets I have done in the past are Weight Watchers, Slimming World and The Burns Diet (protein based).

With Weight Watchers (WW) I hated having to weigh everything. I did lose the weight but put it back on.

Slimming World seemed a good diet but it wasn’t for me. I ate too much carbohydrate which caused my body to have problems (constipation).

The Burns Diet I initially did really well on but you have to love meat, especially chicken. However once I came off it, the weight loss was very hard to maintain.

How my weight affected me

When I was at my heaviest, before I joined WLR, I felt tired, lethargic, and was out of breath when I walked.

When it came to buying clothes I had limited choices which upset me. I wouldn’t go out much as I had no nice clothes.

My friends were supportive but I knew they thought I had put a lot of weight on. My mum was worried for my health. I just felt really miserable and fed up.

My weight loss motivation

My main motivations to lose weight were:

A) For my health

B) I was going on holiday with a friend in June 2018 and wanted to look and feel good.

C) I wanted to buy new clothes in smaller sizes.

How wlr helped me

WLR is a fantastic diet. I love the fact it is calorie based and unique to your target you want to reach. There are no forbidden foods. As long as you stay in your daily allowance you lose weight.

It is very realistic and not hard to follow! I like chocolate and if I had calories left at the end of the day I treated myself to a two finger KitKat or a bag of Maltesers (186 calories).

I have found it really easy. I enjoy filling in my diary every day even when maintaining. Also, when you exercise you can add those calories you’ve used to your allowance and the biggest plus is you can eat these extra calories too. I have never been hungry.

I always use my diary as it keeps me on track. I use the food search and extensive food database as it makes it very easy to count the calories. I find the weight loss goal tracker invaluable as it keeps me on track and I enjoy seeing my results.

Sometimes I have struggled when I have been poorly or just finding it difficult to diet for some reason like an upset or worry. A couple of times I have experienced a plateau.

When these have happened I have used the Help Team for support and advice and this kept me going. It also helped to know that if I just stuck with it and carried on I will lose my weight. Seeing myself in smaller clothes too helped, and my mum treated me every time I lost 7lbs. 

How losing weight made me feel

Since I lost my weight and got to goal I feel like I am walking on air because I am lighter. I am happier in myself - I feel and look good in my new clothes.

I love going to my Zumba classes twice a week. It’s become part of my life. I have more energy and confidence and I enjoy socialising more.

People pay me compliments, which makes me feel good about myself and I know that all the hard work was worthwhile.

Getting fitter

I joined a Zumba class which I go to twice a week. I love this and the exercise makes me feel good, and it’s changed my body shape. I get a real buzz out of going.

I love feeling happier in my new body. My self esteem and confidence has been boosted. My body shape looks great - I now have a waist and a proper figure!

My health has dramatically improved. I no longer have medication for high blood pressure, and I can run without getting out of breath.

I never miss my Zumba classes which have become part of my life and I really enjoy going for the music, people and the dance routines. 

My 7 top weight loss tips

My top tips for others on their weight loss journey:

• You have to be in the right frame of mind and be focused.
• Have a realistic goal. Set yourself mini goals like half a stone at a time, so it makes it easier to reach your goal.
• Treat yourself after each stone you lose to something nice so it boosts you up.
• Never give up - keep going even if you have a bad week.
• Ask for help and advice to keep you on track.
• Always remember each 1lb you lose is a pound lighter than you were the week before.
• Don’t be too strict with yourself go out now and again and enjoy yourself. This helps keep you motivated.

   

Tips for getting the most out of wlr

• Always fill in your diary.
• Use the food search regularly.
• Always remember the Help Team are there for support and advice.
• You can get advice from other people who are in the same boat as you in the different forums.
• Always log your progress as it keeps you on track and keeps you motivated.
• Never guess calories or weights as these need to be accurate to achieve your goal.

The best thing is I know if I keep filling in my diary every day I will maintain no problem. Plus I know I can go out with friends, family, or my husband and have a good time - and still keep the weight off.

Thank you WLR - you have changed my life and helped me achieve my goal and look good!