Allison Weir, 45 from Larkhall, lost 5 stone* in five months on LighterLife Total, and then another 4lbs on LighterLife Management. Here, she explains how she went from overweight to fitness enthusiast, thanks to LighterLife – and a very supportive husband.
What made you decide to start LighterLife?
“I suffer with asthma, and back in January 2009 both my lungs collapsed. I was taking steroids to deal with my condition and became extremely overweight. My excuse was that I couldn’t really do anything because of my condition, but really I also had a lot of bad habits that I wasn’t acknowledging. I’d had enough of being overweight and so I decided to start LighterLife the following January. I chose it because I didn’t want to be constantly counting calories and worrying about what I could and couldn’t have. LighterLife makes it so much easier and I knew what I had to do, it was just a matter of getting on with it. I took to it very easily and didn’t look back.”
What’s been your favourite thing about your LighterLife journey?
“The girls in my group on a Monday night were fantastic. Some came and went without sticking to it and I felt sorry for them, but lots did stick at it and we helped each other. My counsellor Lorraine was fantastic and she kept in touch with me throughout my management programme once I’d reached my goal, even texting me when I wasn’t able to make it to the group sessions to see how I was getting on.”
How has your lifestyle changed since doing LighterLife?
“In my second week of LighterLife, I decided to start swimming. My husband offered to come with me for moral support, and we went once a week. After a month, we noticed that I was able to do more lengths, and this improved each week that we continued. I also felt like I had a lot more energy than before. By March, I was swimming twice a week and had lost three stone. I then started a boxercise class with circuits – something I would never have been able to do before. I started noticing the weight drop off, I was slipping into smaller clothes sizes and I hadn’t used my inhalers in weeks. I’m a lot fitter and healthier now and, what’s more, I really enjoy it!”
What keeps you motivated?
“What keeps me motivated is seeing my new shape. My eldest daughter is 20 and I’m now the same shape as I was before I had her! That’s quite an achievement for me. Now that I’ve lost the weight, I’ll be able to see her and my other daughter (who is 18) grow up and have children of their own. Before I lost the weight, I didn’t think I would see 50.”
What’s been your biggest challenge so far on your weight loss journey?
“I took to the programme quite easily and didn’t have a problem losing the weight – changes to the body are easy, but it’s changing your mindset that takes time. The biggest challenge for me was on holiday – walking down from my hotel room to the pool in my bikini, without covering up. I can now wear a bikini, but it takes your head some time to catch up with the fact that you can now wear a bikini and no one will stare. When I’d done it, I felt so confident and it was a great moment. I’ve gone from a size 16 – 18 to an 8 – 10 and it feels great being able to wear clothes I would never have dreamed of trying before.”
If you could give one piece of advice to other members, what would it be?
“Post LighterLife, my husband and I make more of an effort to live a healthier lifestyle and it’s really benefitted us both. Hopefully we’ve added some extra years to our lives! He’s supported me throughout my journey and it really helped. If you want to make a change in your life, you really can do it – and it helps to have friends and family who support you as you take those important steps.”
*Each of our client’s results and stories are unique to them and their experience of LighterLife. Your own results will be personal to you and may vary.
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