“I could barely walk the length of myself and I’m only 4ft 11!”
I knew my weight was out of control. I was constantly breathless and could barely walk the length of myself, and I’m only 4 foot 11 inches! Then there was the time on a motorbike trip, riding pillion with my husband. After a short stop, I struggled to climb back onto the bike because of my size. I ended up having to ask a couple of people for help, which was so embarrassing.
But the biggest trigger for losing weight was my health. I was adopted at birth, but at the age of 66, I discovered my biological family in Ireland – and also found out about our family medical history. It was not good. My doctor implored me to lose weight urgently, and that was the biggest wake-up call of all.
“I wasn’t hungry at all”
All my previous dieting attempts – too numerous to recount – had been doomed to fail from the start, because I always felt so hungry. To live my best life, I knew that this time I had to be successful. Apart from anything else, I was getting so heavy that I was experiencing difficulties walking the dog – in fact, walking very far at all.
After looking at a few options, I decided that LighterLife was the right path for me. I’d done it very successfully 17 years earlier, and it was the only time I ever lost weight and kept it off for any length of time, not least because being in ketosis kept my hunger at bay.
It was the same this time around – right from my first week on the TotalFast plan, I wasn’t hungry at all. That’s key, because when you feel satisfied, you’re less likely to start picking (because we all know where that leads!). With TotalFast, it’s easy to stay on plan. The Chocolate Shake encapsulates the diet for me – I could have it four times a day every day, no trouble! I also love that you don’t have to shop for food, cook or count Calories.
Great group support and real insight
The support from my group and Mentor has played a key part in my success, right from the start on TotalFast, and now in Management. The weekly sessions have been great – the themes and topics you discuss give you insights into behaviours you didn’t realise you were doing. It’s also very supportive, because you are all more or less the same in the group, experiencing the same victories or the same angst and negativity.
My Mentor, Jane, is extremely supportive on all fronts and is always there if I need her. My fellow group members are great too, because we are all striving together to achieve results, and the tips and advice we share both in the weekly sessions and in Jane’s WhatsApp chat room are so helpful.
Full of energy for life
My life has changed so much for the better. I’ve just retired and have the energy and zest to sail into later life with gusto. My husband and I are both avid motorbike enthusiasts, and although I passed my motorbike test 29 years ago, these days I prefer to ride pillion rather than taking the handlebars myself. I’ve treated myself to some expensive new bike leathers in my new, smaller size – and I can’t wait to wear them as we travel around the UK and Europe on our bikes!
Healthwise, my GP has reduced my medication, I’m far less breathless, and I can walk much farther than before. What’s more, I now cycle 40 miles every week – it used to be just two miles a week, if I was lucky.
These days, I take more care with my appearance and I’ve renewed my interest in fashion. My wardrobe has had an upgrade – it’s now chalk compared to the cheese it was before I lost weight. It’s less black and more vibrant, and going from a size 20/22 to a size 14 is hugely inspiring. I’ve had a lot of positive comments on my appearance, which has been lovely and encouraging, too.
A life-changing experience
I now stop and question what I put in my mouth and ask myself if it’s worth the Calories. That is a huge step forward from where I was. If you need to lose weight and are thinking about LighterLife, please don’t hesitate to join – it’s life-changing.
