Nearly 3 Stone Down, and Still Going: How Sharon Turned Grief Into Strength
Sharon, from Devon, has lost nearly three stone with LighterLife, but she says the biggest change isn’t really the number on the scales.
“I Wanted to Feel Good About Myself Again”
Sharon had done LighterLife before, back in 2009, so when she came home from a holiday in 2022 feeling very unhappy, it was her husband who encouraged her to try it again.
Not long after she restarted, Sharon lost her husband. It was sudden, and it changed everything. But she kept going.
What Helped Her Achieve her Goals
Sharon had tried different approaches over the years but nothing had stuck long term. Going back to LighterLife felt like a natural choice. “I knew that it worked for me,” she says. When her world fell apart, she had something solid to come back to.
“I Finally Feel Proud of Myself”
Sharon says she’s more active now than she has been for years.
She goes to Zumba classes two or three times a week, enjoys walking, particularly along the seafront where she lives, and even went snorkelling in Egypt, something she says she never would have done before.
She’s also come off blood pressure tablets and says her cholesterol levels are now back in the normal range.
More than anything though, she says she feels mentally stronger and proud that she kept going through such a difficult time. She knows that her husband would be proud of her too.
What Makes LighterLife Different
For Sharon, it wasn’t just about what she was eating. It was “being mindful, setting boundaries, thinking about delayed gratification, being able to rebalance and be honest with those around you.”
She also says her mentor, Georgina, played a huge part in helping her through some very dark periods.
“She never judges and gently encourages and guides me. Throughout, Georgina has been there for me when things were not going well.”
“I see LighterLife as part of my wellbeing plan’’, Sharon has also had counselling and grief therapy, and she sees all of it as connected.
“You’ve Got Nothing to Lose, Except the Weight”
Sharon says life looks different now, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be good again.
“Life is so different now and I have learnt how to continue to lose weight, whilst also living this new life that I didn’t want”
She’s proud not just of the weight she’s lost, but that she kept going when it would have been so easy not to.
“Just give it a try,” she says. “Think of your end goal and know that you can get there with the support of your mentor and the groups.”
