Page 21 - Healthy food

Success story

was never sustainable for very long and then
I’d just return to my old ways.
My lifestyle was pretty sedentary. I worked
in a school classroom all day and drove to
work. I always felt I didn’t have time to
exercise, but the truth was I just hated it.
Two years ago, I joined Calso gym, a small
independent gym in Bromley, near my home,
which is run by an ex-Army personal trainer,
Gary Nicholas. My sister Paula had been a
member for a few years and done well and
encouraged me to come along. But after a
few months I dropped out, as I just couldn’t
seem to shift my weight or get motivated. At
18st and with a BMI of 39.4, I was morbidly
obese. At this stage, by some miracle, my
FAMILY SUPPORT from daughter Millie, son Sam and husband Phil helped Lisa stick with her
weight wasn’t affecting my blood pressure or
resolve. Once she started getting active, she found she enjoyed it so much it became the norm
cholesterol, but I knew that in 10 years or so
it would become a problem. I became quite
depressed about it and was in a dark place. was overwhelmed with the likes and I still ate treats
messages of support from my friends and Gary was adamant that I shouldn’t deny
My GP recommended surgery family. This proved to be the secret of my myself any foods – that’s what I’d always done
I was actually warned by my GP that she success – I kept on going because I didn’t in the past and I’d always end up feeling
thought the best option was for me to be want to let all these people or Gary down. deprived and binge eat. Instead, I tackled my
referred for bariatric surgery (either a gastric The thought of having to post my weight loss portion sizes, which were huge, and filled up
band or bypass). Ironically, though, I wasn’t (or gain) on Facebook every week on lots of healthy fruit and vegetables and
quite obese enough to qualify for having the strengthened my resolve. lean protein. I cut down on bread and pasta,
operation on the NHS and I I started my health kick three which had always been my downfall. One of
knew that if I paid for it weeks before our summer my favourite things was hot-buttered toast or
privately it would mean ^ Iavoidedthe holiday in July 2016 and really hot cross buns, which are so calorific. I
sacrificing a family holiday – trap of rewarding didn’t think I’d manage to lose stopped eating so many of those, but I did
and I wasn’t prepared to make weight while I was away, but I allow myself small treats of around 100
the whole family suffer because myself by eating bought a FitBit and aimed to calories. These could include a small glass of
of me. I just didn’t know want walk 10,000 steps a day, red wine, a chocolate rice cake or a KitKat or
_
to do instead, though. more food switched my evening wine for bag of Quavers. I never felt starving, so I
One day in the summer of a gin and slimline tonic – and always felt in control and wasn’t tempted to
2016 I got a call from Gary from the Calso managed to lose 5lb while were away. Even binge. I was more relaxed around food and
gym asking me why I’d stopped going. I was though I was burning calories with exercise, didn’t feel it was controlling me any more.
honest and said I’d become very down about I didn’t fall into the trap of rewarding myself I didn’t cook separate meals for myself –
my weight and lack of progress, and he by eating more food. I realised I had to build the whole family ate the same – but I had
offered to help me by coaching me personally. up a calorie deficit to shed the weight. smaller platefuls than I used to. If we were
He said I could lose weight if I did it slowly
and set myself plenty of targets along the
way. There would be no special diet – just LISA’S TOP 6 WEIGHT-LOSS TIPS
common sense over portion sizes, plus lots of
exercise to burn off all the calories. I paid O GET A FITBIT/ O KEEP A SUPPLY of O SET TARGETS along
Gary £32.50 a week for a personal training ACTIVITY TRACKER to 100-calorie snacks and the way. I had a big
session and £35 a month to use the gym, give you a good idea of treats. Mine included birthday looming, which
telling myself it was an investment in myself how many calories you’re child-size boxes of really motivated me, but
and cheaper than a gastric band. burning off. It will raisins, bananas, every couple of months
encourage you to keep chocolate rice cakes, I’d aim to complete an
Facebook strengthened my resolve moving every day. dried fruit, packets of event such as a 5K run or
The first thing Gary asked me to do was post O DON’T BAN Wotsits and Quavers. Tough Mudder.
a commitment to lose weight on my Facebook ANYTHING Once you O VARY YOUR O DUMP THOSE FAD
page. I really didn’t want to do it as it seemed place certain foods EXERCISE I tried all DIET BOOKS – I took all
so personal, but I wrote quite a heartfelt post off-limits you just start kinds – gym work-outs, mine to the charity shop.
about how I was embarking on this journey to crave them all the circuits, walking, running, I didn’t want reminders
to get fit and healthy and would be posting more. Instead, try having weights and cardio classes of my past failures on
my weight loss on my page every week. smaller portions. – so I never got bored. my bookshelves.
I wondered what reaction I would get, and

FEBRUARY 2018 HEALTHY FOOD GUIDE 21