Mandy Mallinson from Cheshire lost 3 stone 5lbs* on LighterLife Total. She went on to lose another stone on LighterLife Management. Here, she tells us how she went from couch potato to skydiver in just a few short months.
What made you decide to start LighterLife?
“I’ve been overweight since my teens and had always yoyo dieted. I tried every diet out there, but none of them seemed to work. What appealed about LighterLife was that it deals with the psychological aspect, as well as with what you eat. My Counsellor, Carol Graves at the Hyde LighterLife centre, never for a moment doubted that the weight would drop off. What she was more interested in was helping me find out why I put it on in the first place. That was really different for me, and the work we’ve done means I’ve now got the tools to keep it off by myself.”
What did you learn on LighterLife?
“It sounds corny, but the group sessions really helped me to get to know myself a bit better. It made me realise why I was self-sabotaging all the time. The problem wasn’t my body – it was in my head. I grew up with three brothers, so in our house if you didn’t eat quickly, you missed out. I’ve kept that mentality throughout my life, and always felt like I needed to clear my plate quickly. My husband even used to joke that I had racing colours on my knife and fork! After doing the group sessions, I was able to recognise this and realise that I can take my time and I don’t need to eat that way anymore. I control what I eat now – the food doesn’t control me.”
How has your life changed since you started LighterLife?
“Quite simply, I eat less and I move more! I now do all sorts of things I couldn’t do before – I go to zumba classes, and I’ve taken up Bollywood dancing, which is a real giggle! For my birthday in April, my husband bought me an indoor skydiving session. It was an amazing experience and something I could never have done before I lost the weight. After that, I received a letter from the British Heart Foundation asking if I wanted to do a real sky dive to help raise money for the charity. I grabbed the opportunity and did it in June, raising £1,724 for them in the process. It was exhilarating and I’m so glad I did it.”
What keeps you motivated?
“I work at a chiropractic centre, where we promote healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle. Being in that mind-set really helps. I also make an effort to do little things every day – so I’ll run up and down the stairs instead of walking. I might park further away from the entrance so that I can walk a bit further. Keep on moving – that’s the key!”
Have you seen any health benefits since doing LighterLife?
“I’ve seen so many benefits generally as I’ve got lots more energy now, but the main thing is that I was on blood pressure medication previously but now my condition is totally under control and I no longer need medication. My GP was absolutely delighted when we found out and has been very supportive about my weight loss.”
What’s been your biggest challenge so far on your weight-loss journey?
“I know that carbs send me on a downward spiral so now, I’ll still have them now and again, but I try to keep them at a distance. I recognise the issue I have and try to modify my behaviour accordingly.”
“Also, my friends were a bit sceptical at the start. I did get some negative reactions – people said things like ‘you’ll only pile the weight back on afterwards’, or ‘you won’t be you if you lose weight’. I just had to be strong and assertive and know that this is something I was doing for myself. At the start, I was everyone’s ‘funny little fat friend’. Nowadays I’m still little, still funny and still their friend – I’m just not fat anymore!”
If you could give one piece of advice to other members, what would it be?
“A lot of people coming into LighterLife are afraid of the group sessions – they just want to get the packs and aren’t keen on the idea of group. I would say stay for the group, really throw yourself into it, and don’t give yourself any excuses. It really is the most valuable part of the process and it helps you understand your triggers. Without knowing that, you can’t keep the weight off long-term – you need to understand what’s going on in your head so you can deal with it better.”
*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.
Join LighterLife now
