I lost 4st so I could be here to see my kids growup
Mum piled on pounds after a heart op then changed her diet, writes Maria Croce
WHEN Elizabeth Butler was rushed to hospital with heart problems, she feared she might not see her kids again.
She was overweight and decided she had to change her lifestyle. Elizabeth lost almost four stone and dropped down from a size 16-18 to 8-10.
The 37-year-old, who lives in Scotstounhill, Glasgow, with husband Colin, 42, an engineer, and their children – Ollie, 11 and Daniel, eight – had been born with a congenital heart defect. But it was only diagnosed five years ago when she became very ill.
Growing up, she sometimes struggled to breathe and was told she had asthma.
But it turned out she’d had supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) – which leads to a rapid heart rate – from birth.
Elizabeth was working as a health care assistant in a private hospital when she felt unwell. She was rushed to hospital and a heart surgeon recognised SVT symptoms.
She said: “I thought I’d never see my children again. It was a very scary time.
“My blood pressure was always high and I was struggling to sleep. I’d often wake up with a bumping fast heart rate and it kept me awake for hours.”
Elizabeth underwent a six-hour heart op a month later.
But she gradually gained a couple of stone and when she returned for a check-up, her blood pressure was high. She had gone up to a size 16-18 and was weighing 13st 9lb.
She said: “I was told I had three months to lower my blood pressure or I’d have to go on beta blockers, which really scared me. I knew I needed to do it for the kids. I was scared and thought, ‘What if I don’t see them again?’”
Her GP referred her to WW (Weight Watchers re-imagined) last August. She lost two-and-ahalf stone in 12 weeks and got her blood pressure down.
Elizabeth continued with the healthy eating plan and also got fit through the Couch to 5k programme. She has lost almost four stone in six months, getting down to 9st 12lb and a size 8-10.
She said: “Before, I was eating four biscuits with a cup of tea and my portion sizes were terrible.
“I would have a bowl of Kettle Chips at night or chocolate to get a boost but I switched to herbal tea or fruit.
“I love my porridge every morning with plenty of fresh fruit. My dinners now consist of chicken, salad and the portions are well under control now.
“It’s amazing and scary how much food you put on a plate and eat without thought.
“I love the WW workshop in Knightswood. My coach, Karen Elliott, has been an amazing support and made me realise I could do this.”
Now, Elizabeth hopes to become a WW coach to help others.
She added: “I’ve given myself a longer life and would like to help other people, too.
“My body was getting tired of all that weight on my heart. Now, I have more energy to play with the kids and my life has changed for the better. My advice to anyone who thinks they can’t do it is to keep going.”
Go to www.weightwatchers.com/uk