I used to scoff 4 bags of crisps a day, couldn't walk up stairs & was 20st – now I'm half the size without fat jabs
Lisa Bernett, 44, tipped the scales at a whopping 20st 5lbs at her heaviest and found herself struggling to even get up the stairs.
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She would gorge on entire grab bags of Doritos crisps, two takeaways a week costing £50 a week as well as eating "huge" portions of cheesy pasta.
But after Lisa's husband told her he wanted to lose weight, she decided to follow suit as she didn't want to be bigger than him.
Having previously tried the "fad" diets without success, Lisa instead decided to use a calorie app MyNetDiary instead of weight loss jabs like Mounjaro.
And within two years she had slimmed down from a size 24 dress to a svelte size 8 after shedding 10st 5lbs all by changing her diet and exercising.
Lisa, from Boreham Wood, Hertfordshire, said: " I would never used the jabs as I do not believe it teaches you about fat loss or educating yourself about food.
"It's a good tool to have but if you have no other tools then how will you keep it off?
"There's no way I would want to stay on injections for the rest of my life in the fear that if I stop I'll gain.
"I also didn't feel comfortable going down the surgery route."
Lisa, who runs a funeral directors, added: "When my husband said he wanted to lose weight that set the bells of.
"I didn't want him to be smaller than me, I'm quite old fashioned and I thought 'if he's smaller me than he can't protect me.' "My lifestyle before was pretty bad - I didn't move.
I look unrecognisable after my 14st weight loss - it's like my partner has brand new girlfriend
"I'd take the kids to school, go to work and then come home and sit on my backside.
"Walking, going up the stairs, it was hard.
"My knees hurt and I got out of breath really quickly.
"Thankfully, I never had any health issues, but I got chest infections quite a lot."
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After deciding to make a change, Lisa knew she had to address her diet.
She said the calorie counting app allowed her to still maintain her bigger portions, whilst prioritising protein and fibre.
She switched the heavy cheesy pasta for jacket potato with grilled chicken and salad and soon began to notice a change.
Combined with an exercise regime of an initial 10,000 steps a day - upped to 20,000 - and regular gym activity, Lisa managed to shed the pounds.
She is now able to pick "anything" off the clothing rack in a store after previously 'hating' shopping.
FOOD BEFORE
Lisa said: "My diet was poor. I wouldn't ever eat breakfast.
"Lunchtime I'd either eat loads of pasta with cheese, or I'd have lots of bagels with cheese.
"For a snack I'd have a whole bag of crisps with a dip - I didn't realise a whole bag of and a dip was probably my whole daily allowance for food.
"I'd have a takeaway twice a week and big portions of home cooked meals.
"I always had to finish my plates.
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"Now, I use a calorie app.
"I reeducated myself about food and now I know when I'm going to lose weight and when I'm not.
"My portions are big but they're big with calorie dense food.
"I priorities my protein goal, fibre goal and a calorie goal.
"As long as I hit these goals then it doesn't matter about my fat and carbs.
"As soon as you cut out food, your body wants it.
"When people say they're going to have 1,200 calories, it's not sustainable and then you binge over the weekend."
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LISA DIET: BEFORE AND AFTER
LISA'S BEFORE DIET
Breakfast: None
Lunch: Big portion of cheesy pasta Snack: Crisp grab bags
Dinner: Home cooked big portion or takeaway
LISA'S DIET NOW
Breakfast: 60 grams of porridge, 28g vanilla protein powder, 200ml almond milk, 80g blueberries
Lunch: potato, 300g tuna in brine, tin of sweetcorn, 50g spring onion and mix with 50ml lite mayo, 20ml balsamic vinegar.
Dinner: Jacket potato 300g, bowl of salad, spring onions, beetroot and balsamic vinegar, with grilled chicken and peri peri salt.
FITNESS CHANGE
She also incorporated a gym routine into her new lifestyle - despite previously "running out crying" as she thought everyone was looking at her before eventually conquering her fears.
Lisa said: "I started off with walking 10,000 steps a day. I did that for three months but now I'm doing 20,000 a day.
"I got a gym membership, and I walked in and it was so overwhelming.
"You feel like everyone's looking at you and I ran out crying.
"So I got a PT, and I had him for three or four months.
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"I liked the boxing part of it so I started Muay Thai which I did three times a week - sometimes five times a week.
"Now I'm at another place where I have gym sessions and do martial arts every morning.
"I do that Monday, Wednesday and Friday, then on Tuesday and Thursday I go to gym and do weights."
CHANGED OPINIONS
Despite all her success, Lisa says since losing the weight people around her have "changed."
She explained: "A lot of people didn't think I'd stick to it, and I get that as I'd probably think the same thing.
"I know there are other people who are waiting for me to put the weight back on.
"People change when you lose weight.
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"I'm not that fat friend anymore and everyone likes to have a fat friend.
"Strangers are also nicer to me.
"I used to hide in the back in photos, now I want to be in the front - I love it.
"I eat properly during the week so I know I can have a big plate of food at a restaurant on Saturday, and I don't feel like people are watching or judging me, but if I was big, they'd be judging me."
Lisa said her advice for others who are looking to do the same is to "take accountability."
She added: "Not everyone's perfect.
"Even on the days you find hard, and you want to reach out for something bad, do it, but weigh it and take accountability, then rein it back in the following day."
How cutting out sugar can help you lose weight
It might sound obvious, but cutting out sugar can help you lose weight - and this is why
Reduced alorie intake: Sugar is calorie-dense but not nutrient-dense, meaning it provides a lot of calories without making you feel full. By cutting out sugar, you naturally reduce your overall caloric intake, which can create a calorie deficit and lead to weight loss.
Lower Insulin Levels: Consuming sugar, especially in large amounts, causes spikes in blood sugar levels, leading to increased insulin production. Insulin is a hormone that promotes fat storage. By reducing sugar intake, you can help stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels, making it easier for your body to burn fat.
Decreased Cravings: Sugar can be addictive and lead to cravings for more sugary foods. By cutting it out, you may find that your cravings for unhealthy, high-calorie foods decrease, making it easier to stick to a healthier diet.
Improved Satiety: Foods high in sugar are often low in fiber and protein, which are essential for feeling full and satisfied. By replacing sugary foods with more nutrient-dense options like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, you can increase your satiety and reduce overall calorie consumption.
Better Nutrient Intake: When you cut out sugary foods, you often make room for more nutritious foods. This can improve your overall diet quality, providing your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to function optimally, which can support weight loss efforts.
Reduced Fat Storage: High sugar intake, particularly from fructose, can lead to increased fat production in the liver, contributing to weight gain and obesity. Cutting out sugar helps to reduce this effect.
Enhanced Metabolism: Reducing sugar can improve metabolic health, including better insulin sensitivity and lower risk of metabolic syndrome, which can facilitate weight loss.
By cutting out sugar and replacing it with healthier options, you can create a more balanced and sustainable diet that supports weight loss and overall well-being.
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40 minutes ago
- The Sun
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BBC News
an hour ago
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Kent mum thanks 10-year-old daughter for saving her life
A mother said she has her daughter to thank when she gets married after she helped to save her life when she had a sudden heart from St Mary's Bay in Kent, was driving with her two children in April when she began to experience nausea, jaw pain and severe chest something was seriously wrong, she managed to pull the car over in a lay-by in Ashford, where her 10-year-old daughter Alice called East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) praised Alice, who managed to remain calm and described her mum's symptoms to emergency services on the phone. When paramedics arrived on the scene, they confirmed Rachel was having a "serious heart attack".She was taken to William Harvey Hospital where surgeons discovered a blockage in a major said that thanks to the "courage" of Alice and ambulance colleagues, Rachel received the treatment she needed and was discharged four days later, returning home to her fiancé and two daughters. 'Difference between life and death' Alice has now been awarded with a certificate of bravery from East Kent Hospitals NHS said: "I am so proud of Alice and over the moon that she's been recognised for her bravery that day. "Thanks to her, and the Secamb team, I'll now get to walk down the aisle and marry my partner of 19 years."Paramedic Rachel Lees, who helped to give treatment, added: "It really was a miracle that Alice was in the car with her mum that day and that she knew exactly what to do. "Her quick thinking really was the difference between life and death."
