Heather walks the weight off

Weighing just over 17 stone, Heather decided it was time to take action to loose weight. Two and a half years later and 7 stone lighter, she is a true Weight Watchers success story.

Heather said: “My friend had started going to Weightwatchers, so I went along with her. Then she stopped going, but at least by that stage I was loosing weight so I had the motivation to keep it up”.

The meetings played a major role in helping Heather to loose weight and she feels she couldn’t have done it alone.

She said: “You need the support of going every week, standing in front of someone and being weighed. At least you know if things haven’t gone well and you’ve put weight on, it’s a new week and you’re starting afresh again. You don’t have to dwell on it each week.”

Heather also liked the idea that no food is out of bounds, making things much more realistic and achievable. Keeping meals tasty and enjoyable is important and Heather feels the key is everything in moderation.

Taking up exercise to help with weight loss, Heather went to several classes such as Tae Bo and Zumba and while she enjoyed being a part of these groups she nonetheless swears by walking. Her routine is to set the alarm an hour earlier in the morning and get up at 6.00am for a walk.

She said: “If you get up and go for a walk first thing, at least then you know it’s done for the day.”

She also advised: “Don’t look out the window before you go. If it’s raining it might put you off, but if you’re already out the door at least you’ll keep going rain or not.

“Sometimes if I’ve already walked in the morning I might get another chance to walk later on again in the day, but even if I don’t, at least I know I’ve done one walk. I’m sure people see me out walking all the time and think ‘here she goes again’, but it’s just how I cope”.

With so much conflicting advice on weightloss and dieting, Heather offers a few clear tips of her own.

First of all she said: “You have to really want it for yourself and not be doing it just because other people think you need to, otherwise you’ll be throwing your money away joining Weightwatchers”.

As regards to sticking with it Heather said: “Nothing motivates you more than seeing weight coming off”.

Research has suggested that today’s overloaded food environment is one of the most significant reasons we tend to over-eat, it’s not all about lack of willpower. Heather recognises that there will be bad days when you eat more than you should, but she said: “Just go for a walk - some exercise should get you back on track.”

As regards her new, lighter life now, Heather says it’s great: “Shopping is a whole new experience for me. It’s fun because you know things will fit you and there’s so much variety too. I used to be finished shopping really quickly because there were only one or two shops that stocked items in my size, but now I can shop anywhere and there are so many shops to choose from. I used to worry that I would find clothes big enough, but now I sometimes have to go back for a smaller size, it’s amazing.”

Heather also says that prior to her weight loss there were clothes she would never have thought of wearing, but now her weight loss has given her confidence to wear different things like dresses.

Heather is very laid back and modest about her amazing achievement, but she is living evidence that healthy and sustainable weight loss can be achieved with a little bit of determination.

To find out more about Weightwatchers classes contact Bernie Walsh on 07789813337.