Lost 13kg and 54cm
My weight had crept up by 10 kilos over the last 10 years. I was a size 14 and I felt unattractive to my husband of 44 years, with the beginning of a dowager’s hump, sleep apnoea, tiredness, and a muffin top. Not a good look for a reasonably attractive 67 year old.
I started one week before Christmas 2018, so I was determined to give it a real go, forgetting about alcohol and snacks and lollies over Christmas and the New Year. Now I just say ‘no thanks’ to all those lollies, ice creams, weekend alcohol, cakes, biscuits, peanut butter and 3.00 pm binge on anything I could find in the pantry. I found with the suggestions of protein balls and bars to replace my snacking I really didn’t need them, and could easily have a teaspoon taste of a piece of birthday cake for a special occasion. I found it a great help to make friends with the other girls – all with a common goal, do a circuit after walking the 2.5kms to the gym, enjoying a black coffee and a chat after the sessions – or a relaxing massage in the chair.
The idea of writing everything in a diary made me accountable, and I also found it a help that my fridge had cold water always available so the 2 litres a day was easy. I loved trying out the various recipes each week and soon was on first name terms with the butcher, green grocer and health food shop assistant, plus visiting shops that offered a discount for Healthy members.
The staff at Blackwood were full of great ideas and encouragement, also the other girls who would share in my achievements – even if it was only 500g a week. Getting back on track was an achievable goal with the trained staff’s suggestions of interesting recipes and tricks to make my weight loss dream a reality. The monthly encouragement of the ribbon length of cms lost was such a thrill.
The need to buy new clothes, new bras, new undies – no more granny knickers for me; new bathers and sexy nighties rather than old t-shirts, less nanna naps, lower BMI, changing from a size 14 to a 10 or 8, less night time coughing, no sleep apnoea, a happier me!
My 3 top tips are:
- Listen to the advice of the coaches.
- Drink lots of water.
- Don’t be discouraged if you don’t lose a huge amount of weight at the start.