“I couldn’t bear the thought of being so overweight”
We had booked a family holiday to Disney Florida in May 2025, but in all honesty, I wasn’t looking forward to it as much as I should have been.
Quite simply, I couldn’t bear the thought of being so heavily overweight on a nine-hour flight and in a hot place. And I was worried about the rides, because some are weight-controlled. Being turned away would have been my ultimate humiliation.
The obvious solution
In January 2025, I made a big decision – to do LighterLife and get my weight down for our holiday. I knew it worked and that I could achieve my goal before we went away, because I’d done the programme before.
Seventeen years earlier, I’d lost 6½ stone with LighterLife and had been able to come off all my medication for type 2 diabetes. Although I’d regained a bit of weight in the intervening years, I’d stayed medication-free. But when Covid hit, my weight escalated – I couldn’t control it. And my blood sugars soared, which meant I’d had to go back on medication.
So, returning to LighterLife seemed to be the obvious solution to my weight and health problems. And then, when I went online to rejoin, a familiar name came up as a Mentor – Lisa, who had done the programme with me all those years ago. It seemed like fate was intervening to let me know I was on the right track!
Well-structured support
On the TotalFast plan, getting into ketosis was the hardest part for me, but I managed pretty well straight off the bat. I think that’s because it’s so well-structured, with lots of help from your Mentor and the group WhatsApp chat room, which was always full of supportive words. My husband and children were there for me, and my sister, Janis, always provided encouragement and support too.
I loved the “hot” Foodpacks, especially the Jerk Noodles FastPot, the Spicy Sweet Potato and Carrot soup and the Vanilla shake, which I’d mix with a teaspoon of coffee and hot water – lovely!
Food for thought
Lisa was an extremely helpful Mentor and so supportive in and out of the weekly group meetings – she provided lots of encouragement and food for thought! And once I’d settled into the group, it became easier to open up and share my own thoughts and feelings.
What really struck me was that, even though I’d been through this process before, it was still a revelation that I wasn’t alone with my eating behaviours – like hiding food and secret eating.
It’s a journey
The weekly sessions really made me sit up and think about what I’d been doing and why I was doing it – and how to combat these thoughts and behaviours in the future now that I understand them better. Being in Management after losing the weight really helps with this.
Perhaps the most important thing I’ve learned is that managing your weight is a continuous journey – it’s not a cured-and-done process. There’ll be ups and downs, and you’ll learn to make choices to bring yourself back to where you want to be
More confident and relaxed
At 2½st lighter, I’m much more confident and happier in myself, more relaxed and less stressed and getting used to my changed appearance! I don’t feel that I have to hide in the background anymore, either – in fact, I’ve got plenty of photos from our amazing Disney holiday with me in them. I’m even taking pictures of myself now.
I feel I handle myself and situations better, and looking good is a part of that. I can wear fitted clothes without feeling as though I was being tied up, and I’m getting back into smaller-sized clothes that I haven’t worn in years – luckily, I’d stored them! Knowing I can buy pretty underwear and clothes in the “normal” size range is also a boost. And yes, I love wearing red!
It’s not just about the number on the scales, either. It’s all the little things like being able to bend over comfortably, cut my own toenails, being told I look good and having strangers smile at me instead of frowning or looking through me – that’s wonderful.
Normal blood sugar
My health is so much better. I’m able to walk my dog more easily, and for longer and further.
But the best thing is that my blood sugar levels have more than halved – and so has my diabetes medication. While my doctor has told me that I’ll never completely reverse my type 2, my blood sugar is now within the normal range, which is incredible.
“You can do it!”
If you’re thinking about doing LighterLife, do it when you’re ready, when you can really commit. Focus on one day, one week, at a time and set yourself small challenges. These don’t have to be about weight loss – you could go for something like fastening a button on your blouse, or getting those jeans up past your thigh. Your butt or hips can be the challenge after that! Surround yourself with positivity – thoughts, posters, friends, family, your Mentor and group – and reach out if you struggle or need help. You can do it!
