‘I couldn’t fit into my work uniform... but now I need a smaller one!’
NURSE KATIE CLARE REVEALS HOW SHE LOST SEVEN STONE...
ANURSE who could no longer fit into her work uniform has transformed her life – after losing more than seven stone.
Katie Clare was on maternity leave with her little boy Dougie, when she realised she could no longer fit into her work clothes.
The 29-year-old didn’t want to ask for a bigger size and decided to do something about the weight that she had put on through her pregnancy and IVF.
Katie walked through the doors of her local Slimming World group just a couple of weeks before the country went into lockdown in March 2020.
In just one year the NHS nurse managed to lose 7st 3lbs, dropping from a size 20 to 22 to a size 14.
Katie said: “I was on my maternity leave and was so focused on my little boy Dougie, and just enjoying all my time with him.
“I was due back at work in August 2020, and I went to try on my work uniform and it didn’t fit me.
“I knew I had to do something, because I didn’t want to have to ask for a bigger size, and I wanted to be healthier to keep up with my son. Throughout our IVF journey and pregnancy, I’d put on about four or five stone.
“In the past I’d tried various fad diets – either low calorie ones or meal replacements – and the results never lasted. I needed something more sustainable.
“I had thought of Slimming World before, but I was breastfeeding and didn’t think that I’d be able to do it. I didn’t know that you can still follow the plan and have an extra healthy A choice to make sure you get enough dairy.
“I spoke to my consultant and just decided to give it a go, and luckily I found the plan really easy to get into. In my first week I lost half a stone, so I knew that something was working.”
Katie had just two in-person meetings with her fellow members before Slimming World took all of their groups online.
After what she called a ‘fab’ first weigh-in, Katie was more determined than ever before to continue with her journey from home.
She said: “Lockdown actually really helped me with my weight loss. I wasn’t able to go out and see people, which took away all of the temptations that come with having meals out.
“Slimming World and my consultant, Catherine, really reassured us and kept us in the loop when lockdown first happened. The online sessions were lovely and they really kept all of us going.
“Losing weight each week kept me really motivated, because I could see the plan working. My little boy was also a constant motivator every single day, especially when I was seeing how much easier I was finding it to keep up with him.
“Now I can do more things with Dougie. Before, everything would hurt and ache when I was walking, but now I can get down on the floor with him and play, and we can go to the playground and it’s not a problem for me.”
As a healthcare worker, Katie often works long hours and says that ‘preparation is key’ to stay on track with a busy job.
She said: “I work 12.5 hour shifts, so it can be really busy. When I’m at work I like things that are quick, so sometimes I’ll go for pasta packets, which can be really low syn.
“I’ll also prepare meals at home and take them in so I’m not tempted - preparation is key.
“You can come across a lot of temptations, like cakes and other treats at work, or takeaways at home - my partner loves a Domino’s - but I know that whatever other people are having, I can make a version that’s similar and Slimming World friendly.
“I have a sweet tooth, so I love being able to use my syns to satisfy those cravings. I like an Options hot chocolate - they do lots of different flavours – and crisps and Muller Light yoghurts.
“The beauty of your syns is that you can use them for whatever you like, whether that’s biscuits, alcohol, or sauces with your meals.”
Katie, from Middlewich, also exercised, which she thinks was really beneficial for her mental health during the lockdowns.
She said: “We went on a lot of daily walks, but at the start of lockdown it was to get out of the house, to give Dougie and I some fresh air. I’d do about 8,000 steps a day and we’d have a walk along the canal.
“Exercise is beneficial but there’s that phrase, ‘you can’t outrun a bad diet’. I think it’s important to get your diet sorted and then any exercise on top of that is great.
“I’m so much happier now – I’ve never been this weight at all in my whole adult life. I can keep up with Dougie and now I’m in an even smaller work uniform.”