Cathy Lost 4 Stone 12lbs & Dropped 6 Dress Sizes*
Customer Cathy has been on an amazing journey! She was determined to be fit, happy and healthy for her children and so, vowed to lose weight. After finding The New You Plan she has lost 4 stone 12 pounds, and has gone from a size 22 to a size 10. She looks & feels years younger, but more importantly, she can play with her children with ease.
Here is her story…
Cathy, describe how you felt before you started the plan?
I was miserable. I had two beautiful children that I could not enjoy because I was so conscious of my size. I avoided mirrors, photos and anything where I would be the focus. I had always been around 12/13 stone but after having two babies in 18 months, I had gone way beyond my comfort zone. All I thought about was food and every Monday I was starting afresh but by Tuesday I was back to old habits and berating myself for being the way I was. My wonderful husband and amazing family never criticised me but I felt that I was letting everyone down because I could not be myself. I could not see a way out and I knew I needed to take drastic measures to change.
How did you discover the New You plan?
One night I was awake with my then 4-month-old and I began researching food replacement plans. I had done a similar plan years ago and had been relatively successful so I wanted to try that type of plan again. New You was the first plan that came up on my search and I read the testimonials and saw some of the success stories and I thought it was worth a try. It was different in that there were meals rather than just shakes so I thought I would not feel as though I was on a strict diet if I was eating meals.
How has the plan changed your life? How has your health improved?
I don’t even know where to start with this. It has changed my life so much; actually not just my life but my family life too. I can now run around with my children, we can go on days out and I will not just be the one sitting minding the bags! I feel 10 years younger and I am so much happier in my own skin. This happiness is prevalent in everything; I am more positive about things and I am looking forward to the future. I can wear the clothes I love and shopping is a pleasure, not like before when I dreaded it.
An example of how my life has changed came in a simple moment with my children. We hide when we know my husband is coming in the door from work and jump out to surprise him (it’s the simple things!). Last week my son led me into a really small space to hide and myself and the two little ones fitted in with ease. I never would have even contemplated trying to get in before I lost weight because I definitely would not have fit but now I can do everything! I am fun Mammy!
On New Year’s Eve last year I was so unhappy with my weight. I never could have even imagined being where I am a year later.
New You has changed my life. I’m happier, healthier and much more comfortable in my own skin. I’m a before and after success story!
What was your biggest motivator for staying on-track?
It was my children and my husband. I really wanted to be a Mammy that was involved in everything, I wanted them to be proud of me. I have always struggled with my weight and I do not want that for my children. I wanted to lose the weight and get a healthy eating and exercise plan so that they can see the right way to do things, rather than emulate my patterns. I am very driven and I stayed motivated because I had an end goal and I focused on that when the days were difficult. A lot of people have said to me that I have great willpower, and I think this proved that I have, as I set my start dates and end dates and in those times I followed the plan 100%. I rewarded myself for each target I met and I was good to myself rather than always seeing the negative.
What’s your biggest non-scale victory?
There have been many of these and on those weeks where you do not lose as much as you hope, they matter even more!
One of my goals was to be able to walk into high street shops, pick up a size 12 and not worry about it fitting. Just before I reached goal I went into a clothes shop, I picked up a size 12 and went to try it on. Putting it on I thought it seemed a bit lose but I thought I was imagining it. When I was in it and turned to the mirror it was really baggy and clearly too big. I could not believe it! I went and got a size 10, while shouting about it all the way from the changing room (!) and it fit perfectly. So I bought the size 10, the first time I have been able to do that since I was in my early twenties.
Since losing weight, what is your happiest/ proudest moment?
Before I started my journey I bought my 2 year old son to a local soft play place. I could not go in with him because I would not fit through the narrow spaces and I was afraid it would not withstand my weight. I stood by and shouted in at him from the side. I bought him to the same place a couple of weeks ago and I went in with him, played on everything and we had a ball! I was so proud of myself that day, when I got back to the car I cried. I felt every hard day was worth it to feel the way I did jumping up and down the foam obstacles with him. We have gone back twice since and he loves that I now come in with him to play.
What is the nicest compliment you’ve received since losing weight?
I have to say that everyone I have met since losing weight have complimented me. I regularly get told how it makes me look younger and people have walked past me and not recognised me. I went back to work after being off for 14 months and my colleagues could not believe how different I looked. I have been told that I am an inspiration and that is amazing but I think that I had to lose the weight because I put it on in the first place so I am only undoing my own habits. I think that the change in me is drastic in every way; I am shining from the inside out!
What are your favourite New You meals and snacks?
I am very picky and although I originally tried everything, but I have a few favourites. Pasta Carbonara is my ultimate favourite dinner, I could eat it every day. Coconut or strawberry bars are delicious, and I have to have a packet of salt and vinegar crisps every evening. I love the peanut snack bar too but I always feel if I have them in the house I will be tempted to snack on them, so I rarely get them!
What advice would you offer anyone thinking of starting the plan?
Get your mindset right and just go for it! I think it is important to decide why you are doing this and set yourself mini goals along the way. Celebrate even the smallest of achievements and if you falter along the way, get back on it as soon as possible. A quote I like saying to my students (I’m a teacher) is “don’t look backwards, you’re not going that way”, so keep moving forward and you will get your day in the sun!
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