Latest news with #MyNetDiary
New York Post
4 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Junk food addict rejects Ozempic-style drugs, loses half her body weight with simple natural method
A chip addict who ballooned to 280 pounds scoffing down four bags a day managed to lose half her body weight naturally — without using any jabs. Lisa Bernett, 44, tipped the scales at a whopping 285 pounds at her heaviest and found herself struggling to even get up the stairs. She would gorge on entire grab bags of Doritos, two takeaways a week costing over $65 a week as well as eating 'huge' portions of cheesy pasta. 10 Lisa Bernett, before she lost weight. Lisa Bernett / SWNS 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 slender size 8 after shedding 145 pounds all by changing her diet and exercising. 10 Lisa Bernett, after she lost weight. Lisa Bernett / SWNS 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'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. 10 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. Lisa Bernett / SWNS '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.' 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. 10 Having previously tried the 'fad' diets without success, Lisa instead decided to use a calorie app MyNetDiary instead of weight loss jabs like Mounjaro. Lisa Bernett / SWNS She switched the heavy cheesy pasta for baked 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. Lisa said: 'My diet was poor. I wouldn't ever eat breakfast. 'Lunchtime I'd either eat loads of pasts with cheese, or I'd have lots of bagels with cheese. 'For a snack I'd have a whole bag of chips with a dip – I didn't realize a whole bag of chips and a dip was probably my whole daily allowance for food. 'I'd have takeout twice a week and big portions of home cooked meals. 'I always had to finish my plates. 'Now, I use a calorie app. 10 She switched the heavy cheesy pasta for baked potato with grilled chicken and salad and soon began to notice a change. Lisa Bernett / SWNS '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, fiber goal and a calorie goal. 10 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. Lisa Bernett / SWNS '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.' 10 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 Bernett / SWNS 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. '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.' 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. 'I'm not that fat friend anymore and everyone likes to have a fat friend. 'Strangers are also nicer to me. 10 Despite all her success, Lisa says since losing the weight people around her have 'changed.' Lisa Bernett / SWNS '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.' 10 'I'm not that fat friend anymore and everyone likes to have a fat friend. Lisa Bernett / SWNS 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.' Lisa's before diet: 10 Lisa said her advice for others who are looking to do the same is to 'take accountability.' Lisa Bernett / SWNS Breakfast: None Lunch: Big portion of cheesy pasta Snack: chip bags Dinner: Home cooked big portion or takeout 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: Baked potato 300g, bowl of salad, spring onions, beetroot and balsamic vinegar, with grilled chicken and peri peri salt.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
20st crisp addict who ate 4 packets daily lost half her body weight without jabs
Lisa Bernett tipped the scales at a whopping 20st 5lbs A crisp fanatic who tipped the scales at a hefty 20 stone after munching through four packets a day has shed an incredible half her body weight naturally – without resorting to any injections. Lisa Bernett, 44, reached a peak weight of 20st 5lbs and found herself panting just climbing the stairs. Her diet was dominated by family-sized bags of Doritos, bi-weekly takeaway feasts costing £50, and "huge" servings of cheesy pasta. However, when Lisa's husband expressed his desire to slim down, she decided to join him on his weight loss journey, not wanting to be the larger one in their partnership. Having been let down by "fad" diets in the past, Lisa turned to the calorie-counting app MyNetDiary instead of opting for injections like Mounjaro. In just two years, she went from wearing size 24 clothes to flaunting a trim size 8, having lost a whopping 10st 5lbs by overhauling her diet and embracing exercise. Lisa, hailing from Boreham Wood, Hertfordshire, shared: "I would never use 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 manages a funeral directors, added: "When my husband said he wanted to lose weight that set the bells off. 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'." She further shared: "My lifestyle before was pretty bad - I didn't move. 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." Following her decision to transform her life, Lisa recognised she needed to tackle her eating habits. She explained the calorie tracking application enabled her to keep her generous portion sizes whilst focusing on protein and fibre intake. She swapped heavy cheesy pasta dishes for jacket potatoes topped with grilled chicken and salad, and quickly started noticing results. Paired with a fitness routine beginning at 10,000 daily steps - later increased to 20,000 - plus regular gym sessions, Lisa successfully dropped the weight. She can now select "anything" from clothing rails in shops after previously 'despising' shopping trips. Lisa explained: "My diet was poor. I wouldn't ever eat breakfast. "Lunchtime I'd either eat loads of pasts 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. "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 prioritise 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." She also embraced a gym routine as part of her revamped lifestyle, overcoming initial intimidation that had once sent her "running out crying" from the gym. Lisa shared: "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. 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." Despite her achievements, Lisa notes that since shedding the pounds, attitudes of those around her have "changed". She said: "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. "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 revealed her advice for others looking to follow suit is to "take accountability" adding: "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." Lisa's previous eating habits Breakfast: Nothing. Lunch: Large serving of cheesy pasta. Snack: Packets of crisps. Dinner: Generous home-cooked meal or takeaway. Lisa's current daily menu 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
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
I was a size 24 who struggled walking up the stairs until I lost 10 stone WITHOUT Mounjaro and 'fad diets' - I give this advice to everyone
A 44-year-old self-described 'crisp addict' who, at her heaviest, weighed over 20 stone, has shared her top advice on losing half her body weight without the help of weight loss jabs or fad diets. Lisa Bernett, from Boreham Wood in Hertfordshire, used to eat four bags of crisps a day, as well as two takeaways a week that cost £50 a week and 'huge' portions of cheesy pasta. At the peak of her weight gain, Lisa weighed 20st 5lbs, was a UK dress size 24 and struggled to walk up the stairs without getting out of breath. She admitted that her poor diet and lack of knowledge around nutrition led to the serious weight gain, adding that she 'didn't realise a whole bag of crisps and a dip was probably my whole daily allowance for food'. However, after her husband told Lisa he wanted to start his own weight loss journey, she decided to follow suit. Lisa wanted to avoid using weight loss jabs like Mounjaro, and had previously tried fad diets without success - so she decided to start calorie counting using the app MyNetDiary. Within two years of starting her journey, she had dropped from a size 24 to a size 8, shedding 10st 5lbs in total simply by changing her diet and exercising. Lisa said she did not want to turn to jabs because she doesn't '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?' she questioned. '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 added: 'When my husband said he wanted to lose weight that set the bells off. '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'.' Recalling her lifestyle before losing weight, Lisa said she did not do any exercise and would go about her day taking the children to school, going to work, and then 'come home and sit on my backside'. She admitted: '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.' She knew that her diet was the first thing she had to address, as it 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,' she said. '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.' But using the calorie app has helped Lisa to 'reeducate' herself about food, she said, adding that she now knows 'when I'm going to lose weight and when I'm not'. Using the app has allowed her to continue eating bigger portions, but she now prioritises protein and fibre to improve her nutritional intake. She swapped cheesy pasta for jacket potato with grilled chicken and salad; got into an exercise regime of 10,000 steps a day at the start; started going to the gym regularly; and sticks to a calorie goal each day. The upheaval in her diet and exercise routines has helped her shed the pounds, and now Lisa said she is able to pick 'anything' off the clothing rack - a far cry from the days when she 'hated' shopping. Lisa said she now enjoys shopping at size 8, but recalled how difficult it was to start a gym routine because she was 'overwhelmed' She said that while her portions remain big, they are filled with calorie-dense foods. 'I prioritise my protein goal, fiber goal and a calorie goal. As long as I hit these goals then it doesn't matter about my fat and carbs,' she explains. '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.' Incorporating a gym routine into her new lifestyle was not easy to start with, Lisa said, as she found it 'overwhelming' to walk into the gym and think that everyone was looking at her. '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. 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.' She has also upped her step count goals, after walking 10,000 steps a day for three months, and now does 20,000 steps a day. But the one thing Lisa said she has noticed since losing weight is that the people around her have 'changed' their attitudes towards her. 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,' she lamented. 'I'm not that fat friend anymore and everyone likes to have a fat friend.' She also noticed that strangers are 'nicer' to her now that she has lost weight. '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.' However, Lisa now feels much more confident being in photos than she used to. 'I used to hide in the back in photos, now I want to be in the front - I love it.' Her advice for others looking to lose weight is to 'take accountability'. 'Not everyone's perfect,' she said. '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.' 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.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
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
Plus, how people treat her differently now she has lost weight WEIGH TO GO 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 A CRISP addict who ballooned to 20 stone scoffing down four bags a day managed to lose half her body weight naturally - without using any 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. 9 Lisa Bernett, 44, reached 20st 5lbs thanks to her crisp and takeaway addiction Credit: SWNS 9 She has now shed 10st 5lbs without weight loss jabs Credit: SWNS 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. More on weight loss JABS UP Can you get free fat jabs on the NHS? The 4 key criteria plus exact weight revealed 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." 9 She used to gorge on entire grab bags of Doritos crisps, two takeaways a week, and eat 'huge' portions of cheesy pasta Credit: SWNS 9 She has slimmed down from a size 24 dress to a svelte size 8 Credit: SWNS 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. 9 Lisa used to struggle to go up stairs Credit: SWNS 9 She said the calorie counting app allowed her to still maintain her bigger portions, whilst prioritising protein and fibre Credit: SWNS "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." 9 She switched the heavy cheesy pasta for jacket potato with grilled chicken and salad and soon began to notice a change Credit: SWNS 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. 9 Now she feels fully confident in a bikini on holiday Credit: SWNS "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. 9 She does exercise every day to help her weight loss Credit: SWNS "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."
The Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
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
A CRISP addict who ballooned to 20 stone scoffing down four bags a day managed to lose half her body weight naturally - without using any 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. 9 9 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." 9 9 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. 9 9 "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." 9 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. 9 "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. 9 "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.
