'Miracle' Weight Loss

Throughout my life, I have struggled with my weight and have gone from an anorexic 6 stone to a chubby 11 ½ stone and all weights in between. I am lucky, because there are not really any very obese genes in my family; but I also work hard at keeping my weight steady.

I have no idea how many different weight loss programmes there are or have been. The one thing I am completely sure of is that dieting does not work. What it does do is make you completely obsessed, or ‘consumed’ (pardon the pun) by food and what you are allowed or not allowed to have. This then leads to the binge/starve cycle – a very destructive and ineffectual roller coaster of guilt and gratification. I am sure anyone who has ever tried to lose weight by denying themselves certain foods, will agree with me. As an anorexic, I did not touch bread (one of the things I crave) for two years. When I recovered, I could not pass a bread shop without salivating at the delicious smells and stuffed my face on bread to the point where I felt sick. Nowadays, I can go without bread for weeks (and I feel a lot less bloated for it) but if I get that overwhelming feeling, I just let myself have a piece of bread, enjoy it and feel no guilt about it at all.

The miracle is that weight loss is so simple; and yet so many people find it difficult. First and foremost: DON’T EAT SO MUCH. I’m sure we all know this, but doing it is another thing.

For what it’s worth, I used to pile my plate with so much food that by the end of the meal I would feel bloated, apathetic and full of self loathing. My attitude was then, ‘Oh well, it’s too late now, I’ve blown it. I’ll always be overweight.’ That then became a self fulfilling prophecy. It basically let me off the hook. Sound familiar?

After I gave up smoking (and I do wonder if the massive increase in obesity is not in part due to a decrease in smoking. I have never met a smoker who does not put on weight when they give up) it took me ten years to lose the weight I put on. I have now reached my target weight and have managed to maintain it for several years.

So here is what I’ve done. It hasn’t been painful, it hasn’t even been difficult and I never fall into the binge/starve trap because I do not deny myself things when I really want them. But it does require a determined mind set and an understanding that this is not a temporary eating plan. If you go back to your old ways, you will put on weight. So this has to be thought of as a positive, permanent, new and better way to live.

My advice:

- HALVE what you put on your plate. If you are genuinely still hungry, have seconds.

- Think about whether you are REALLY HUNGRY, or are you just bored/comfort eating/habit eating?

- SNACK when you feel hungry, but snack HEALTHILY. I buy a selection of seeds (sunflower, sesame, pine nuts etc) and dry fry them and then cover them in soya sauce and keep them in a tupperware box (cheap and lasts forever). Whilst my colleagues are busy tucking into biscuits and cakes at break time; I munch away on my seeds. I get a lot of comments, and people tease me about my bird like snack, but who cares. Bananas are also great for filling gaps. But find the snack that suits you. Of course, if you snack on biscuits, crisps or refined foods, your weight will take a lot longer to lose.

- AVOID CARBOYHDRATES after 5pm and try to have only one carb helping each day. If you have a tendency to bloat out, this will help a lot. Avoid eating anything after about 8pm (if this suits your lifestyle). Going to bed on a full stomach is never good.

- Avoid CARBONATED DRINKS, which have absolutely no nutritional value whatsoever. DRINK tomato/fruit juices and plenty of WATER. (I know, I hate water, but I force it down, though never drink the huge amounts you’re supposed to).

- EAT BREAKFAST. This will start your metabolism kicking in. I only eat a small breakfast because I’m not generally very hungry (a banana, a yogurt, that sort of thing) but even the tiniest amount will start up your metabolism.

- Alcohol will put on weight. Limit what you drink. But don’t be unrealistic about this. DENIAL WILL LEAD TO CRAVING AND RESENTMENT AND ULTIMATELY OVER INDULGENCE (but be sensible about this).

- Find an EXERCISE that suits you and a timetable that fits in with your life style. It’s no good setting targets which you cannot fulfil – leading to the ‘I’ve blown it so I’m giving up completely’ mentality. I go swimming twice a week – probably not enough, but achievable for me. I also walk my dogs. I am by no means a fitness fanatic. I HATE jogging or any kind of running; I am hopeless at sticking to an exercise plan. I do have my failings but try not to let them make me give it up entirely.

- DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP IF YOU HAVE A BAD DAY. Wake up the next day with a positive attitude and you’ll be back on track.

- REWARD yourself with an indulgence (preferably not a trip to McDonalds!). I buy clothes or shoes, but do whatever you would normally feel was a bit sinful.

- DON’T LIE TO YOURSELF…..! Often people who want to lose weight can be very self deluded and convince themselves they’ve had a really good day, choosing to ignore all the slip ups. I’ve said ‘don’t’ beat yourself up’, but neither should you congratulate yourself falsely. You’re only hurting yourself by lying and you fool no one. IF YOU DON’T LOSE WEIGHT, LOOK HONESTLY AT YOUR FOOD INTAKE.

- As you grow older you NEED less food. (Boohoo, I’m nearly fifty)

Lastly, good luck. I am not a nutritionist or a medical person. Neither am I a supermodel or a size zero. I have a tummy and some curves, but my weight is healthy for my height. I am a real person! And I am just passing on some tips and hope you find them easy to follow, and vaguely entertaining.

Let me know how you get on.