On The Cover I Feel Younger Now I’ve Lost Weight Real life
At 21, Pippa Poitras read something that made her think she would be overweight forever. Now 56, she explains…
Idon’t remember the day I was told I was adopted, it was never a secret in my family. My parents had been my m parents since I was six weeks w old and my sister was adopted too. We felt as loved by b our adoptive parents as if we w were biologically related.
As a child, I liked my food and struggled with my weight, until u senior school when I became b self-conscious and for the t first time, tried to lose weight. w My weight went up and down like a yo-yo. When I was 21, I read my adoption papers. p Pi pp a is a healthy but slightly overweight baby the nnotes said. As I read those words, they stung. Suddenly it felt like everything made sense. It was my destiny to be overweight. I was born overweight and I’d always be overweight and there was nothing I could do about it.
Throughout my 20s, I fulfilled my destiny. Studying at catering college, I had access to food. I lost weight for my wedding when I was 31, but as soon as I settled into married life, the weight piled on. My now ex-husband was American and introduced me to lots of rich, calorific American recipes.
When I put my mind to it I could lose a bit for a holiday or an event, but I’d always gain again. I lost 3st in six months to fit into a slinky dress for a black tie do, but it didn’t take me long to pile it back on. I was so insecure about myself yet found solace in food. I’d think back to my adoption notes and take comfort. I was like this as a baby, I’d remind myself. This is who I am. I can’t change my destiny.
Then, in 2012, my marriage collapsed. I had to build a new life and at first, I didn’t do very well. Cooking for one was impossible, I always cooked too much, but ate it all. I relied on
microwave meals and for three years, took no care of myself. My knees hurt, I could hardly walk up stairs without huffing, puffing and groaning. I had no confidence.
In December 2015, I looked in the mirror and wondered who was looking back. I didn’t recognise the woman looking at me and did not like what I saw. It was time to be someone I wanted to look at in the mirror.
In January 2016, I joined Slimming World. It wasn’t my first time, but previously I’d been a
“pay and run” kind of member. This time, I stayed for meetings and got to know other members. I listened to their stories and wanted to see them succeed. My consultant, Donna, was lovely and I felt camaraderie in realising we all had the same goal and could support each other. We’d share tips and recipes, highs and lows. The meetings became the highlight of my week and I made some very good friends who have helped whenever I lost focus. Over the following two years I lost 5st, but I let myself slip, gaining 2st during 2019. When lockdown started I knew it could be an excuse to fall back into bad habits. Throughout last year I learned to batch cook and freeze delicious meals laden with vegetables. tables I walked 2020,000 000 steps a day, which clears and calms my mind. By August 2020, I’d lost 2st 7lbs, which is 5st 7lbs in total.
I used to hold on to the banisters going upstairs because my knees ached. Now I run up the stairs. I felt older when I was 52 and started my weight loss journey, than I do now, four years later. I thought my age would be a limitation, but age doesn’t matter. What matters is making good choices consistently. I no longer believe it’s my destiny to be overweight and I feel so enthusiastic about life. I like the person I see in the mirror now. She’s always smiling!
“What really matters is making good choices – consistently”