Salsa success with 4 stone loss!
Laura McLoughlin After two miscarriages, stay at home mother, Debby Bone felt determined to do something positive with her life…….lose weight and start living!
“I'd lost two babies, and was trying for another, I knew I was overweight, and needed to do something about it”
Within a month of joining our online dieting site Debby found herself pregnant again but sadly lost this baby as well. This was her third miscarriage in 18 months so she took a break. This cruel act of nature spurred Debby on to gain control of her life and a few weeks later, after she’d regained some strength, she returned to our online programme with even more determination.
At size 18 with a BMI of 33 Debby began with our Low Fat plan. She lost her first 2 stone on this and her final 2½ stone with our Low Carb plan and found it really curbed her appetite. “I never feel hungry, doing the Low Carb; I have to remind myself to eat ... now that's just not the old Deb!”
Previously, Debby would often eat 5 donuts in one sitting and her lunch could be 4 slices of buttered bread and crisps made into sandwiches, with a cake to follow. Using our meal plans her appetite is now smaller and her meals are more structured. She realizes its ok to have a snack, as long as it’s in moderation and fits in with her daily calorie requirements.
Debby soon became very involved in the community section of our site using all the services we had to offer. She felt like she was part of a huge family using the support boards. “Everyone is routing for each other, it's just so great to be a part of it!”
Debby’s new found friends on the support boards challenged her to start exercising which was not something that was part of her life. Now she attends salsa classes 3-4 times a week with her husband which she loves! “It's exercise, but not a chore, for anyone else struggling to exercise I think you need to find something that you love.”
Before joining our programme Debby struggled to bend over to do her trainers up. She felt “fat, old and ugly, everything wobbled” and was always tired. “I could barely walk a mile before feeling like I was about to pass out”. She didn't want to go out anywhere, or play with her children, all she wanted to do was stay home and sleep in the afternoon.
Now 3 yrs later after losing 4 and a half stone and maintaining at size 12 Debby’s self-esteem and energy is at a high. This has given her the confidence to start dancing. “Something I'd wanted to do since my childhood!” Her husband, Andy can’t keep his eyes or hands off her and she feels sexy and womanly again.
Looking back, Debby figures she could not have done it without the support boards on our site. “If it wasn't for the support, I'd have given up and never got to my goal...they are so much better than a weekly visit to one of the many slimming clubs”. She found there was always someone around on one of the boards to listen to her problems or joys. "It's great being able to share my experience with others and being able to help if I can".
“My biggest and best tip for anyone thinking of joining is DO IT and join in on the boards too, they really are what helps keep you going when things get tough!!”
