Slow and steady wins the race!
Fiona has struggled with her weight all her life. After her second pregnancy she found it especially hard to shift the pounds so she joined our online dieting site and lost over 3 and a half stone!
Here is her story...
What Diet plan did you follow? I have followed nearly all of the plans, but have found the Gi plan to be the one most suitable to me. I have lost the most weight while on this plan and everyone in the family is happy to eat the recipes given.
How much weight have you lost? I was 14 stone 11 lbs and a size 20, although I didn’t have any size 20 clothes, my size 18 ones were tight and uncomfortable. I am now 11 stone and a size 12. I have lost 6 inches off my chest, 6 inches off my waist, 6.5 inches off my hips and 4 inches off my thighs!!
Has your family been supportive to you in your weight loss efforts? My husband & 2 children have been very supportive. My husband said he would give up smoking when I got to a size 12 which I did in January 2008. He has yet to give up smoking!
What part, if any, has exercise played in helping you to lose weight? Everything! I was a bit of a couch potato before. I would occasionally swim and walk but now I walk at least 30 minutes everyday, swim once a week and use my fitness dvd 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes each time.
Was your weight causing you any problems? At the time I couldn’t get very nice clothes, only the ugly larger size things. I was very unfit and couldn’t walk for very long or far without having to sit down.
What difference to your life has losing weight made to you? It has boosted my self confidence. I feel more able to say no to things (food, work colleagues!) I feel a lot healthier too. It is nice to be able to walk up stairs and not feel breathless when I get to the top!
Have you enjoyed our online dieting site? The 40’s board is fantastic, everyone is very supportive and I have made some wonderful friends through it! I also like the simplicity of the meal plans, of someone else deciding what you will eat and how to exercise!
Tell us about your diet before you joined us, and how has your diet changed? I used to eat all the kids’ leftovers, and then I would eat a full meal with my husband, and have the same size portions as him, on top of snacking on cakes and biscuits! Now I eat smaller portions of far healthier foods. I snack on fruit and the occasional cracker or rice cake. I do allow myself chocolate from time to time (sometimes too often as it has taken so long for the weight to come off!), I don’t think you should deny yourself everything, otherwise you want it so much that you ‘pig out’!
How do you feel about your weight loss? I feel very proud of my weight loss ! It has sometimes been a bit of a struggle but to be able to go into shops and buy something in a size 12 is a brilliant feeling! I used to live in loose long clothing, but now I am happy to wear more fitted outfits! One habit I have recently broken is the need to have something to eat every time I have a cup of tea or coffee. It has taken a while but I am pleased to be able to have a drink without the need to reach for the biscuit tin!!
Do you feel confident about maintaining your weight loss? I do. I don’t ever want to go back to being fat! I can’t eat so much these days either and I have to exercise everyday, otherwise I feel a bit guilty!
Finally, Fiona’s words of encouragement to fellow dieters out there……
I would encourage anyone with any weight to lose to have a look at our online Dieting site, I tell everyone about it! A few tips - stick to the plan, exercise a little everyday, drink the water, and the pounds/kilos will fall off!! A favourite saying of mine is ‘Slow and steady wins the race’. It might have taken me almost 3 years to lose the weight, but it should stay off now!