Nothing is as valuable as good health
Nutrition Team After discovering that her BMI was placing her in the obese category, Penny decided to take part in a scheme her GP was running. This involved registering for the Tesco Diets plan and carrying out regular weigh-ins under the supervision of her GP, Ian Lake. Through her own hard work and constant motivation from Dr Lake, Penny achieved a 2 stone 3 lbs loss loss and she also dropped 2 dress sizes.
Penny tells us about her weight loss journey…
What made you decide to join?
I discovered that my BMI was teetering into obese. I realised I’d need to take action if I wanted to stay healthy. I also saw a couple of really alarming photographs of myself.
Was your weight causing you any problems?
Nothing major, except I always seemed to be tired. It took me ages to choose clothes and I was definitely feeling self-conscious.
Tell us about your diet before you joined us?
I was never a big eater, just a lazy eater. I didn’t eat regularly, snacked on cakes and biscuits and I didn’t know anything about the calorie content of what I was eating. Now I eat regularly, I understand the nutritional content of my food. I eat smaller portions and have exchanged cakes and biscuits for fresh fruit.
What difference has losing weight made to you?
Goodness, where do I start? All the difference in the world! I feel energetic, fit, proud of my body and I love being able to wear absolutely anything I want. And I can RUN. There are lots of small, but surprising side benefits as well; these all improve my quality of life.
How do you feel about your weight loss?
I am thrilled about it. I just wish I had tackled it years ago. I have broken my lifelong habit of snacking and I am very proud of my figure, but even prouder that I am fit and healthy. My biggest achievement was completing the Bristol 10 K earlier this year in less than 1 hour, which is something I would never have dreamed possible.
Do you feel confident about maintaining your weight loss
Yes. I never want to be that weight again. It isn’t a diet; it’s a change of lifestyle, so I can’t fail. Plus, I now have lots of nice new clothes to wear.
Have you any other information you would like to give?
If I can do it, anyone can do it, we all need support and encouragement. I can’t pretend it’s easy, but it’s definitely worthwhile and very rewarding. My GP’s team were weighing me every week and providing lots of useful information, so they really kept me going, especially at the beginning because I didn’t want to let them down.
Nothing is as valuable as good health.
