Julie's Weight Loss Success

Julie, Age 44, Height 5ft 6in

Start Weight	14st 7lbs
Current Weight	10st 7lbs
Goal Weight	10st 7lbs
Weight Lost	4st
Working to Rate of Loss	2lbs per week, then 1lb
Time Taken	10 months

About Julie

I am married with 2 children. Meals are not straight forward in our home.

Everyone usually wants different things, especially my son Craig who is now 18. He has always been a picky eater and would never try anything different.

My daughter Katie 7 who is slightly better, will try some different things but still you can’t put anything in front of her.

My hubby is the easiest. He will eat anything!

The hardest part of us all not sitting down to the same meal for me is that I always in the past and still sometimes now, start nibbling at what I am making for the kids.

This I know now can really add the calories on i.e. a slice of pizza, a chunk of cheese. I am more aware of this now and I am not as bad as I used to be thank goodness.

I work in a college learning centre/library. Although I do work a couple of late evenings, I can’t really say this affects my eating habits, as I always like to eat late at night anyway.

I know it is said this is a bad time to eat but if I personally try to eat my last meal earlier in the day, I would then still end up eating something later as well.

I therefore decided not to change this and as long as I stay within my calorie allowance now, whatever time of day I eat, it works for me.

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

I have tried all kinds of diets. I think I have been dieting all my life up until now!

A lot of years back I tried the Cambridge Diet. I have done the SlimFast meals on endless occasions. I have also been a member of Slimming World and Weight Watchers on numerous occasions.

The Cambridge Diet was horrendous although about 9lb dropped off in one week. The snacks they provided were not nice. I was left really hungry, depressed and the weight just piled back on.

SlimFast meals do taste quite nice but again both diets are not realistic in the long term, as you cannot live on milkshakes and food bars forever.

I was quite successful at times with Slimming World and Weight Watchers but still every time the weight returned. I just got fed up after a while of following set food plans.!

Tell us how your weight has affected you?

I have spent most of my life being overweight. I had a few problems in childhood and comfort ate a lot.

I have spent years and years of my life just thinking about weight and feeling horrid about myself whilst putting on a bubbly face and trying to kid myself that I was meant to be big and I could cope and be happy with being overweight. It was never true though.

"I hated clothes shopping and seeing myself in the mirror. I would avoid having my photo taken."

My husband has always supported me whatever size. I think this is really nice but I think he is enjoying the new me now!

He has also been very impressed with WLR and joined himself, losing over a stone so far!

My sister is a totally different build to me. She is petite and has always, not without effort though, managed to keep slim.

I would envy her being able to go into the high street shops and buy clothes, whilst I would be struggling to get anything to fit!

She has always been a great support to me though, and has really encouraged me with my weight loss efforts and giving compliments. We even share some clothes now!

What has been your main motivation to lose weight?

I have constantly wanted to lose weight but had failure after failure. In January 2010 my son was going to be celebrating his 18th birthday.

My son is from my previous marriage and therefore a lot of people were going to be attending.

We also celebrate the same birth date, so it was a celebration for me also – apart from the age!

I really wanted to feel good about myself and dress in nice clothes etc. I therefore decided I really needed to find something that would work for me this time so this could be possible.

"At the back of my mind though was the same nagging thought that I would only fail yet again."

I decided at this point to type calorie counting into Google and found Weight Loss Resources. Little did I know it was going to change my life in more ways than one!

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

I decided I had nothing to lose by trying the 24-hour free trial offered on the WLR site. I was so impressed!

"The food and exercise diary is invaluable as long as you are being totally honest."

It is amazing how much we are nibbling on and don’t realise how many calories they all add up to! I complete the diary every day.

I love the goals and results section and the graph that shows how you are doing.

"Although I was a little nervous at first about posting a message on the Member’s Forum, you can’t keep me off it now."

The support and advice that other members give to you, especially at times when you are really struggling is also invaluable.

The member challenges WLR sets are also brilliant. Without me realising it the different challenges have helped to change my bad habits for the long term.

I use most of the tools WLR  provides.

Try WLR's tools for yourself

Calorie counting for weight loss is easy with the tools in WLR. 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.

Why do you think WLR has helped you lose weight?

WLR is exactly what I was looking for. I didn’t want to follow any food plans anymore.

"I just wanted to do a more simplistic method of losing weight by counting calories."

This helped me so much. I could choose exactly what I wanted to eat as long as I counted the calories in my diary.

I have always enjoyed exercise and I found it amazing that exercise calories could all be used on extra food if you wanted to, and I do.

"I just thought instead of getting down if I had gone over my calories I could do some form of exercise to compensate for this."

By chance I found the exact site I had been looking for and little did I know again, just what I was going to achieve in future sporting events!

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

There have been times when a few weeks have gone by and I had not managed to lose any weight.

These times are so hard and it is so easy to give up! The main thing that helped me with this was the Members Forum again and the WLR Help Team.

I moaned on big style on some occasions but always got encouraging responses from others, which kept me going.

"Talking to others having similar problems was again brilliant and kept me on track."

I did find if I didn’t give in eventually the weight did come off by quite a few pounds after a few weeks of STS.

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

I feel so much better about myself. I can’t believe the confidence I have gained since losing the weight and feeling so much fitter.

I suffered with back problems quite a lot which now don’t seem to affect me hardly ever.

"I can go into a shop and pick up a size 12! It can be so funny sometimes getting used to things like this."

Sometimes you do forget that you have changed so much and if I sometimes get a glimpse of myself when passing a shop window, I expect to see the big chunky lass I am used to seeing and she is not there and a smile hits my face.

Exercise routines adopted?

I have always enjoyed exercise and when I was younger I did run a little. About 3 years ago I decided to take up running again as well as my gym visits, when time permitted anyway.

Running was always easier to fit in as I could do it around family life instead of set times being involved.

When I joined WLR in June 2009 I took the running to another level with the support from my husband.

I got totally hooked and involved with the Runners message board in the Members Forum on the site so much so that I completed my first half marathon in April, the same month as I also reached my goal weight- what an amazing month!

"I have entered the ballot for the London Marathon next year and if I am unsuccessful with that, I will be looking to do an alternative one."

I now run several times a week and go to the gym when I can.

This can be hard as it does have to fit around family life but if you are determined enough it can be done.

The exercise calories earned, which I do use on food, are such an incentive.

What do you love about your body now?

Although there is plenty of work still needed on toning my body, which I am working on, it is still amazing that I fit into a size 12 now and my fitness levels have increased so much.

"I feel good and proud of myself, something I have spent years and years not doing."

You only live once. I may have waited until my forties to eventually get there but it is a lovely feeling and I intend to keep this feeling for hopefully another forty years!

Julie's Tips and Hints:

WLR has been a total godsend for me. It is not following a diet; it is just keeping a check on your calorie intake so you are in control of what you weigh and to stay healthy.

This does not stop you indulging in your favourite things at all.

I choose to have fewer calories in the week and save any extras for the weekend and you wouldn’t believe what I eat and drink and still manage to keep the weight down.

"All I would say is be honest with yourself about what you are eating and it will work. Set a goal that is best for you even if only 0.5lb per week."

Exercise does help considerably with weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight. Believe me when I first started running I coughed, spluttered and only lasted a few mins initially, but with determination gradually built up the time.

I know not everyone enjoys or wants to take exercise to the level I have chosen to but just walking to places or getting your old bike out will really make the difference.

A good incentive for me is to imagine a great big pizza and large glass of wine at the end of your exercise session and I enjoy it because I have earned it!

"I have reached a weight now I am very happy with but still would not consider leaving WLR."

I have made some lovely friends on the forums, the food and exercise diaries are so easy to complete and I know personally how easy it can be to slip back into old habits.

If someone had said to me 11 months I would have achieved what I have I would not have believed it. Thank you Weight Loss Resources!