Break-up motivated slimmer’s weight loss
‘I NEEDED SOMETHING TO FOCUS ON’ SAYS NOTTS WOMAN AFTER SHEDDING SEVEN STONE
SOME women turn to comfort eating after a relationship break-up but when her marriage ended it motivated Vanessa Booth to lose weight and transform her lifestyle.
The 31-year-old supermarket worker feels like a different person after shedding an incredible seven stone.
Vanessa overhauled her diet and started walking several miles a day, after embarking on a weight loss plan at one of the toughest times possible.
After splitting from her husband in the middle of the pandemic in 2020 Vanessa moved back to her parents’ home in The Meadows.
She said: “I had a lot going on during that time in my life as my marriage broke down so it was stressful time. I needed something to focus on so once my weight loss journey started I had that straight mind set to make these big changes. As each week approached I was losing and as I got more into the plan I thought ‘I’ve got this - I can do this.
“It’s the best feeling in the world knowing I stuck with it in the middle of a pandemic.”
Weighing in at 16st 1lb she didn’t like what she saw in the mirror. “I just saw fat and not the person I used to be. I wasn’t happy.”
After she married, Vanessa piled on the pounds. “I got comfortable with life as you do and let myself go a bit. I was happy, living together and having your own house.
“I was eating anything, not eating healthily. We had takeaways and were eating out a lot, enjoying life really,” she said.
As well as her favourite Chinese takeaways, Vanessa would snack on chocolate, cake and crisps in the evenings without giving it a second thought.
While Government figures suggest more than 40 percent of adults in England gained an average of half a stone during the pandemic, Vanessa made up her mind to lose weight.
Back at her parents,’ she searched the neighbourhood for weight loss classes and found Slimming World, which meets at West Bridgford Rugby Club in Stamford Road.
But because of the pandemic classes were interrupted and switched from in person to online.
She said: “It was strange doing it that way but I stuck with it and decided to go for it.
“You had to weigh yourself every week. I was alright - I was losing and kept my mind focused on where it needed to be.
“I got used to following the plan and looking different recipes up online and in magazines and changing meals each week.
“Seeing everyone on a screen rather than in person was very different. You still went through everything on screen each week that you’d do in group but it wasn’t the same as seeing them in person.
“They were a nice group and motivated each other. They gave advice and tips on what they did and it helps you out.”
As well as watching what she ate, Vanessa started walking during lockdown.
“I was doing two to three mile walks, getting outdoors and getting that fresh air you needed,” said Vanessa, who works at Asda in West Bridgford.
There have been many pluses to shedding weight. As well as having more confidence, she’s had to buy a new wardrobe after dropping from a size 18 to 8-10.
“I feel healthier. Before I had no energy, I was tired a lot. As I’ve lost weight, I’ve got more energy now, I can do different things, I can go out more and I’m sleeping better,” she said.
The Slimming World plan has taught her new healthy eating habits.
“I don’t really have butter now or use oil. I don’t have as much bread, just two slices. I don’t have a lot of chocolate but on Saturdays once I’ve been weighed I’ll treat myself to some chocolate, a piece of cake or a packet of crisps.
Even though she was struck down by Covid over Christmas she still stuck to the plan and managed to lose weight. Currently 8st 13st, she’s edging closer to her target weight of 8st.
“I’ve had quite a lot of customers saying how different I look and how amazing I’ve done, what a great achievement and I’m a different person.
“I’ve had lots of different compliments from my customers. It gives you a boost.”
Vanessa’s story backs up new ground-breaking new research from the University of Lincoln which reveals the link between weight loss groups and increased mental toughness.
The research reveals that people who are supported in a group environment lose more weight than those who go it alone.
The six-month study, the first of its kind in the UK, found on average Slimming World members lost over 2st more than those aiming to lose weight without the support of a group.
The research also showed that mental toughness rose by ten percent amongst Slimming World group members.
The findings come at a time when the UK population faces a spiralling obesity crisis and increased mental health challenges.
Dr Elizabeth Stamp, who studied the role of mental toughness on health-related lifestyle behaviour change when completing her PHD at the university, said: “Mental toughness is about how someone copes with the challenges and stressors they face. More than that though, it is about seeking out and taking on new challenges.
“People who have a high mental toughness have skills like being able to break bigger goals into smaller achievable goals, being in control of their life and the decisions that they make and having the confidence to seek help when needed.
“These are abilities that people who have a lower mental toughness can develop, and mental toughness has been reported to benefit individuals in other aspects of their life, such as achieving social and educational goals.
“The study revealed that Slimming World members participating in the study lost on average 2st 5lbs over the six months and on average also increased their mental toughness.”