I didn’t want to be 18 stone any more
At almost 18 stone, I was the heaviest I’d ever been. I’d tried to lose weight before, but it always came back. When my wife, Tina, started LighterLife, I decided to join her. I reckoned it would be easier to do it together.
But deep down, I knew I had to change – not just to support Tina, but for me.
I’ve tried Calorie-counting and keto, and was quite successful with each. But I love chocolate and Jack Daniels, and both were never that far from reach. So weight had always been something of a struggle. After looking into LighterLife for myself, I believed it could be the answer. And it was.
Starting the programme
On my second day on Foodpacks in TotalFast, I was hungry. My mentor, Sharon, had already given me a solid piece of advice – have a glass of water when you feel like eating. It worked surprisingly well. Once I got through those first few days, I found my rhythm.
Popped Chips, without a doubt, are the single most incredible product – a game-changer for me. The plain Porridge is lovely… ooh, and the Chai Latte shake, the Nut Fudge bar, Chocolate Mug Cake and Blueberry Pancakes. In fact, there are not a lot of Foodpacks that I don’t like!
My weekly group kept me on track
Attending Sharon’s weekly groups has been the one thing that has encouraged me to continue and not falter. Sharon has a way of making you feel like you can do anything if you put your mind to it. I can be very determined and, in some cases, quite stubborn. So my stubbornness has been a great help in believing in myself and seeing it through to my goal weight.
Sharon has been amazing. She is very encouraging and makes you realise that anything is possible – and she’s honest, too. If you slip up, she tells you straight. She reminds you that it’s your choice – you are an adult, and no one can choose for you. I agree 100% – if you’re paying for Foodpacks and then you “cheat”, it’s only you that you’re cheating.
In my group, we have a handful of regulars who are always there, and I’m one of them. I count myself as one of the more vocal ones, and it’s often difficult to shut me up when I get talking. Some people find it difficult to open up, but I find it easy to talk to anybody. I just hope Sharon doesn’t think I’m hijacking her meetings!
Changing my eating habits
Since losing 5st 12lb, my energy levels are so much higher, I can’t eat bigger portions and I hardly touch alcohol. Tina and I keep an eye out for each other, and although she is still on TotalFast and I’m now in Management, she will make me healthy meals and make sure I don’t go mad with portion sizes. That is something I’m really keen on changing in my life – smaller portions. I’ve started using smaller plates and bowls, which really works.
The reactions to my weight loss have been mixed – some people think I’m ill and avoid talking to me (but I don’t let them get away with that!), while some are very happy for me and Tina and are very encouraging.
Some people would say, “Losing nearly six stone is far too much in just four months”, while others would ask me how I “cope with the hunger” or how could anyone “survive” on so very few Calories. I’d just tell them how it works, how I wasn’t hungry and how I was getting all the nutrition I needed from the Foodpacks, while my own body fat was giving me the rest of the Calories I needed.
Building back up to 10k
I’ve always been quite active, and Tina now wants us to do more things like cycling and walking. I’m also keen to get back into the running and physical stuff I used to love doing before the weight went on, and I’m gradually building up to running a 10k again.
After 8 years, I can finally wear my show jacket!
Throwing out all my larger clothes has been quite cathartic. There have been multiple trips to the clothes bank and charity shops. I’m loving the fact that I can now wear medium sizes as opposed to XXL.
I used to work backstage in West End theatre and was given a show jacket that was so tiny on me that I could never wear it. But I kept it in the hope that one day, just maybe, I might lose enough weight to squeeze into it. Well, not only does it now fit me perfectly, it’s my new favourite item of clothing – even if it does say 2017 on it!
LighterLife is a game-changer
LighterLife has been a game-changer for me – it’s easily the best, most effective weight programme that I know of. And having the support and advice from my Mentor and the group is fantastic. I know they’ll always be there for me. And on a practical note, the water tip is brilliant – it really does work.
Ooh, and don’t forget… Popped Chips!
