“I was using food as a substitute for things I didn’t have in my life”
Things had got to the stage where my weight was impacting everything – my health, my social life and my self-confidence. I was taking four different types of painkiller for pain in my legs, which made walking a big issue, never mind anything like exercising. And my obstructive sleep apnoea meant that when I went to bed, I had to use a CPAP machine to sleep.
I was so sick of feeling, looking and living like this. I wanted a better quality of life. I wanted to look in the mirror and see “me” and I really wanted to be the “me”. I knew I really was and get rid of the weight that was preventing me from fulfilling my true potential.
So many diets, so many disappointments
Over the years, I’ve tried everything from slimming clubs to ridiculous fad diets – you name it, I’ve done it. But the only thing that had ever worked for me in the longer term was LighterLife.
There are many reasons that I had previously stopped using the weight-management skills I’d learned. And, inevitably, the weight piled right back on. But I knew that LighterLife works if you really commit and have the right mentor support. So I took the plunge and rejoined – and I’m so glad I did.
A totally different approach
The first week on TotalFast was tough, I won’t lie. Until ketosis kicked in but I was ready for this happening and powered through with sheer determination, and I soon got into a routine. Hot Chai Latte Shake became my go-to, and I have at least one every day, hot, for breakfast – it’s the best thing LighterLife have ever made, haha!
But, once again, what hit me was how different LighterLife is. It doesn’t simply focus on weight loss – it’s about changing how you think, and that has huge benefits for your whole life.
As you progress through the programme, you come to understand that it’s actually not even about the food. It’s about how we feel about ourselves, getting to know why we make the choices we do and changing that programming for the better.
Excellent mentoring
My Mentor, Tracey, has been incredible – she’s always there for me, even outside the online group meetings. The excellent mentoring based on CBT and mindfulness is what really sets LighterLife apart.
It’s helped me see that I was using food as a substitute for many things that were missing in my life. I’m still figuring out what some of those were, but filling my life with activities, people and work I enjoy has helped me stop using food in that way.
So much more than my weight has changed
While I still have a way to go before I reach my weight-loss goal, at 10st 9lb down so far, LighterLife has already changed my life in many ways – not least because I feel much more confident in myself.
Not long after joining my group, I started singing lessons and am now learning the piano. My social life is so much better as well. I often used to find reasons to stay home, but now I genuinely look forward to being out and about and making new friends. I enjoy going to the gym, too, and I even go jogging, which is a massive achievement for me.
And my health is so much better – I’ve seen massive improvements. I still have the underlying issue with my legs, but the difference is that I now barely need any pain relief. My blood pressure has returned to normal I am no longer pre-diabetic and, best of all, I no longer suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea. No more CPAP machine at night!
My ongoing journey
My goal is to lose another stone and a bit and I’m on track for it, especially with such fantastic support from my Mentor, my group and my family and friends, who are all so pleased about the changes they’ve seen in me.
For anyone thinking about joining LighterLife – do it! Focus on how you want your life to be, and start making changes straightaway, as if you’re already at your goal – because the more you live it, the more likely you are to achieve it.
