Maggie walks her way to fitness!

Maggie is passionate about walking, she loves nothing more than an afternoon stroll in the countryside with her husband. However when her weight tipped the scales at 16 stone the cliff walks became a risky struggle for her. She was tired, unfit and simply not in the shape for any form of exercise.

“I couldn’t believe what the scales were telling me but my joints were stiffening up and I was becoming less mobile. I was finding walking for any length was harder because I was tiring so quickly.”

Day to day living became more difficult for Maggie as her weight crept up. Worries that wouldn’t even cross the mind of someone within the normal weight range became major sources of concern for her.

“We travel a lot, aeroplane seats are not designed for larger people and it became very uncomfortable to fly.”

Maggie followed the Light Choices plan for 18 months and achieved an amazing 5 stone loss, which is more than quarter of her original bodyweight! Her BMI dropped from 35 to 24 which is good news for her health.

Believe it or not but Maggie has also dropped 6 dress sizes since starting her diet, she is literally half the woman. She wears clothes that flatter her figure now rather than trying to engulf herself in swathes of excess material in an effort to disguise her size. She looks fantastic, feels years younger and has gained the strength to re-build her self-confidence.

“No clothes look good on someone of that weight and it was very depressing trying to buy them. I do love showing off my figure and I love feeling fit, in fact I feel fitter than I have ever felt in my life. I found it very difficult to find any full length ‘before’ pictures because I was always hiding behind other people.”

Maggie gave herself the added incentive to never return to her size 22 glory by giving away all of her old clothes.

Perhaps most important to Maggie’s metamorphosis is her renewed enthusiasm in walking. Without the weight loss she would never have been able to embark on the physical challenges she has done recently.

“I feel like a new person. We went on holiday to Norway and I was able to do a Glacier walk and keep up with the younger people. I am full of life these days, in fact I feel fitter than I have ever felt in my life.”

The Light Choices meal plan educated both Maggie and her husband about the importance of watching portion sizes and cutting back on fat in their diet.

“The meal plans are great. My husband and I are both adventurous eaters and love a wide variety of foods so the recipe plans are just right for us. We don’t feel that we are on a diet and we also love the wide choice available.”

Maggie’s current plan has become a part of life for her, she rarely even feels tempted to stray.

“When I go on holiday, I don’t worry about dieting. I have found that I have got so used to eating in this way that I tend to do it without thinking and a small lapse doesn’t matter as long as I just get straight back to the meal plan once I return. Any holiday weight I do gain soon slips away again.”

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