Becky turns the tables with Totals - 2 stone loss!
Becky had tried a lot of weight loss approaches in the past, and when she found our online weight loss site, she was sceptical that it would be the same as all the others. She was also impatient to lose the weight quickly, but soon learned that it’s better to lose weight at a steady pace as it will be easier to keep off in the long-term.
Being a busy mum of two, Becky, aged 47, needed a plan that would be flexible enough to fit in with her family’s requirements – so the Totals plan was perfect for her!
In only 8 months, Becky had successfully reduced her weight from 11 stone to 9 stone and dropped several inches too! She also decreased her BMI from an overweight 28 to a healthy 23. Becky tells us about her turning point.
“I had become resigned to remaining plump for the rest of my life, when one day I was watching “Grumpy Old Women” with my daughters. One of the more amply proportioned women was dancing in her kitchen and my daughter said “Mum, you dance like that!” I nearly died, but I knew she was right. Recent holiday photos also confirmed my worst fears and in my mind, I was a Grumpy Old Woman! So I decided to have one last ditch attempt at losing weight.”
The Totals plan showed Becky how to change her eating habits and portion sizes, helping her to eat healthily and sensibly. “My diet wasn’t that bad before I joined the site. I always cooked fresh foods and rarely ate convenience foods, but my portions were too big, and I didn’t realise how often I was snacking. Fridge pickers wear bigger knickers – say no more! The Totals plan encouraged me to see the benefits of certain foods over others, and has helped me to sort out my portions. I rarely eat high fat or high sugar foods now because I quickly learned that I grew hungry eating these foods because you can only eat small amounts of them to stay within your daily Totals allowance. I hate being hungry, so I chose to eat healthier foods instead.”
Becky also found our online community an invaluable aspect of her success. “I loved the flexibility of the Totals plan because it fits in with family life. But the single most helpful aspect of this approach to weight loss is the wonderful ongoing support and suggestions I have received from the support boards. Trying to give support to others also seemed to help me with my own resolve. I feel part of a caring community, something I feel is sadly missing in today’s society, and it has contributed to my self-esteem – something that is often lacking when one is overweight.”
Becky isn’t a big fan of exercise, but she didn’t let that get in the way of becoming more active – she looked for other ways to be active rather than just going to the gym. “I’ve never been a sporty person and attending gyms or taking regular exercise for the sake of losing weight just isn’t me. I really believe that to be successful, you have to do exercise that you know you can enjoy and maintain. So I made a conscious decision to do things like run rather than walk up stairs, take the stairs rather than an escalator or lift, and walk to and from work twice a day. I also walk to collect my daughter from school rather than driving. Not only have these small changes contributed to my weight loss, but it cuts down on petrol costs, eases congestion and reduces damage to the environment – so it feels fantastic!”
As a result of her weight loss, Becky has rekindled her love of clothes shopping, and is feeling younger and more energetic – and it shows! “I feel I’m making up for lost time with my children, and now enjoy more energetic, fun activities with them. I feel more attractive and my sense of humour has returned. The last time I was this slim, I was in my twenties so I now feel much younger – in fact, people seem to think I’m in my thirties which feels brilliant when you’re not far short of 50! I really enjoy shopping for clothes now and feel more confident that I will find clothes that suit me.”
“I wasn’t aware of it but I had become a bit of a couch potato when I was overweight. I unconsciously avoided exercise because it was more strenuous. I even used to ask others to bring me things if I was sitting down! These days I practically jump out of bed rather than heave myself, so each day starts on a positive note!”
Becky’s family have been really supportive throughout her weight loss journey. “On Mother’s day, my daughters cooked me a grilled breakfast, weighing everything and writing down everything they cooked. What stars!”
Becky admits that she was impatient at first to lose the weight, but now realises that slow weight loss is healthier. “I’m delighted with my weight loss, but equally delighted and surprised by my continuing resolve. I am an impatient person, but people on the support boards quickly taught me that losing weight is better done slowly. I was also encouraged to think of the changes in my diet as a new healthy eating style rather than a ‘diet’ – a word which can have difficult connotations. With this approach, I have lost that internal fight of denial which is stressful and negative, and I allow myself to have my favourite foods occasionally so that eating sensibly has actually just become part of my everyday life.”
Finally, Becky leaves us with a top tip for success. “If, like me, you think you’ve tried everything and think this approach won’t work either, think again! Just give it a proper try. Don’t be impatient – trust that the weight will come off in its own sweet time. We are not all made the same, and some of us will lose quicker than others. Its all about choice and if you choose to eat healthier food in the right portions most of the time, the benefits are incalculable!”
