I am 65 years old. I am a director for a company my hubby of 47 years and I have run for 27 years. I live in Sussex and have 2 children, 5 grandsons, 1 grand-daughter, and 2 step-grand-daughters.
I have been overweight since having my first child at 18. My daughter was born three years later and by then I weighed over 13 st. I starved the weight off over many months, but it came back each time - plus more than ever. I have done most diets including Weight Watcher, Slimming World, Atkins and many more silly fad diets. They all worked at the time, but I just couldn't keep them up, so I gained all the weight and more back over the years.
Being overweight has stopped me from doing normal things like going out and making friends. I have never wanted to mix with people because I was fat and didn't want to be judged. Thankfully I have a wonderful family so have never been short of visitors.
The past few years have been very difficult. I lost my Dad unexpectedly, then had a bad accident and spent three months in a wheelchair. Just as I was on the mend, my Mum died. I just ate and drank for months. I was looking through the photos when I saw my before picture - god was that really me? I cried buckets. I was having a hard time doing most things by then; just everyday jobs were an effort.
I had always had a book and written down what I was eating when I was on my starvation diet, and I had heard of online diaries. I found Nutracheck by accident. I did the trial and I loved it, the forums were wonderful, full of other ladies and gents just like me. I have never looked back - I call NC my second home.
I have no words that come close to saying how good I felt.
I've had my lows since joining and gained a few pounds back, however I have returned to the forum and diary before too much damage has been done.
Before I joined I was so greedy eating whole packets of digestive biscuits and junk food, as well as my normal 3 meals a day. I would eat 4 slices of toast with butter as a snack in the past!
I have learned portion control now. I use my 1,400 calories like money. I spend it on much more sensible things like fruit, fresh vegetable and white meat and fish. I do sometimes have a biscuit but I know when to stop now. I love my porridge, fruit and salad now and I can have so much of it for such a small amount of my calories.
So many people have said such lovely things to me since I have lost my weight but this one moment will stay with me forever...
I have been fat for every wedding in my family and when Grandson number 1 announced he was getting married in September 2012, I set myself a goal to be a size 12. I bought a lovely navy and white suit and I reached my goal by the time it came around.
The day arrived and at the church, my grandson got out of his car at the same time that I got out of mine, he looked at me and then he said "wow Nan you look gorgeous!" I have no words that come close to saying how good I felt.
My lovely hubby tells me all the time how good I look as well which is just so good to hear, he must have got pretty fed up with my constant silly diets over the years!
My life has changed because I have changed. I love to go out now with friends and family. I can't wait to go and buy new clothes - a thing I used to dread as nothing look nice on me. Most of all though I like me! I look in the mirror and I think YES not bad for an OAP.
I know I will never gain the weight back - I will not go back to that horrible place that I have been in for so long.
It's hard to give advice to other people who have weight to lose, but my top tips would be:
* Weight loss is individual and your personal rate of loss may vary from any case studies shown on this website.
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