I DROPPED 6ST AND NOW I’VE NEVER SLEPT BETTER
Lisa Davies-Read, 33, a business manager, lives in Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, with her husband Huw When I joined Slimming World in January 2018, I was in an unhappy place. I didn’t like how I looked or felt and I’d lost any motivation to go out and socialise.
I felt unhealthy and lethargic all the time and my blood pressure was so high. My ankles would swell and hurt if I walked around for too long and I would get out of breath running up the stairs or cleaning the house. Even putting my shoes on became a struggle.
I couldn’t get a good night’s sleep either. I was completely oblivious but apparently each night I was snoring excessively. My husband Huw would nudge me to wake me up as my snoring meant he couldn’t sleep, however, once he’d woken me up, I struggled to get back to sleep.
My sister Zoe could see how unhappy I was and, as she’d lost weight with Slimming World, she suggested I join. She said it was only me who could do something about my weight and that really stuck with me. I thought I’d give it a go.
I was nervous when I attended my first group as I didn’t know what to expect but I needn’t have worried as everyone was so lovely. I did feel embarrassed when I stood on the scales but I told myself that everyone needs to start somewhere. I lost 7lb the first week and I was so pleased.
During lockdown I’ve enjoyed the social side of the virtual groups Slimming World set up and I’ve loved keeping in touch with everybody.
Seeing the other members and hearing about their successes, tips and tricks or how they’ve stayed motivated has really helped me do the same. I can’t wait until we can all see each other in person again though.
It’s amazing the difference losing weight has made. My sleep has improved, along with my breathing and I don’t snore any more. My blood pressure has also reduced and overall, I feel fantastic.
Before joining Slimming World, I was so desperate to lose weight and tried every fad diet possible. They did work, but only for a short while and as soon as I stopped, the weight piled back on.
I’d started putting on weight at the age of around 17. I’d left school, started college and got a part-time job at a fast-food restaurant where we’d get free food for break and lunch. Over the next few years a combination of eating takeaways and going on nights out with friends at the weekends saw me reach 14st by the time I was 21.
Now I’ve dropped five dress sizes. I used to live in baggy black clothes, but now I’ve started wearing different colours and love a bit of online shopping.
I work for an international manufacturer of heating products.
My role is to look after the installers and plumbers that fit and sell our products. I was often on the road driving to see customers and I developed some very unhealthy eating habits, grabbing a quick lunch whether that was from Greggs or McDonald’s.
Now when I see customers who haven’t seen me for a while, they ask me where I’ve gone or what’s happened and how I lost weight. I love telling them about Slimming World and how it’s the best thing that I could have done.
I’m eating constantly but this time it’s fresh fruit and veg as well as lean meat.
I’m a big fan of salmon or cod and new potatoes with garden peas, and last summer we seemed to have endless barbeques with lean meat and salad.
I love Slimming World’s oat pancakes with strawberries and blueberries. Before joining, I couldn’t tell you when I last ate a piece of fruit and now, I regularly eat apples, bananas or frozen berries.
My sister and I share recipes and food ideas with each other. I love Slimming World’s Food Optimising plan as it’s so flexible. It’s not a diet, it’s just eating healthily. When I think about it, I can’t believe what I used to eat, like pizza and chips, or white bread with lots of butter three times a day. I still enjoy those meals now and again, just not several times a week.
I’m much more conscious of what I’m eating now.
Lockdown has actually given me time to think about what I’m eating. It took me two years to lose 3st and I’ve lost another 3st in the last 12 months. I’m not the most active person but as we couldn’t do anything else this year, I started jogging and I’ve found I actually enjoy it.
I’m so thankful for the support from Slimming World and my Consultant Sophie for helping me to lose weight and showing me you don’t have to follow a no-carb or fad diet, or count calories to do it. It may work in the short term but it’s not sustainable. If it wasn’t for my sister encouraging me to join Slimming World, I’d still be having sleepless nights – and so would my husband.