Sue’s story - 27kg lost.
Sue Bernard, a former IT manager, knows exactly what it is like to be in thrall to ultra-processed food. In her case, the problem was late-night grazing. I would have a healthy dinner, and then after dinner I was dreadful. I ate crisps and chocolate and ice cream. It was non-stop. It was a complete compulsion. And I would even say to my husband, ‘Why am I doing this? Why am I going back into the kitchen to open the fridge and eat more chocolate when I know I cannot be hungry?’ It was almost as if I had a fat wish; we talk about a death wish but this was definitely a fat wish. It was as if I wasn’t in control.
I was stick thin as a child. We didn’t have a car, I walked everywhere. Until my first son was born, I was nine stone and a size 10. Then I had three children and with each child I put on a bit of weight and didn’t lose it. Over the years I’ve tried different ways to lose weight but none of them worked. The catalyst moment was when I saw a photo of myself and I thought I can’t share that – I look huge. I remember the moment incredibly clearly – it was the 10th December 2020. At that point, Sue was 14½ stone (92kg).
She had arthritis in her knees and constant back pain: All the problems you have when you are hugely overweight. And I kept thinking, I’m not going to live to see my family growing up.
She saw my Channel 4 documentary, ‘Lose a Stone in 21 days’, and decided to put herself on my diet.
I saw those people lose all that weight and I thought, ‘I can do that’. I decided this would be the start of a new life. It was as if a switch went in my head.
To start with it wasn’t easy: A couple of nights in the first week I wanted desperately to eat chocolate or ice cream so I went to bed. I started drinking lots of water.
In the morning I started drinking black coffee instead of white coffee so I could still enjoy my coffee. I lost 35lb (16kg) in the first 12 weeks and then I switched on to the 5:2 diet. I have now lost 60lb (27kg). I went from a size 20 to a size 12. Though to be honest it’s not really about being size 12, but I know that being size 12 means that I’m healthy. Now I’ve lost the weight I can bend my knees, something that I couldn’t do before.
We have a couple of small dogs and I do take them out for a walk every day, a couple of miles. When I realised I could move more I joined a local gym and three or four mornings a week I go to the gym and do the bike and the rowing machine. I do crunches and stretches. How do I keep on course? I always plan. It is a way of life and not just a way of eating. I don’t want the sweet things any more, I don’t crave them. My youngest son said to me the other day, ‘Do you know what, Mum, I thought you were on your way to an early grave and now you have a real brightness, a real spring in your step.’ I thought that was lovely.
If you are keen to know more - please send me a whatsapp (071 753 5469) or an email - hansielouw2@gmail.com
Hansie Louw
7 February 2023
Source: Mosley, Michael . Fast 800 Keto: Eat well, burn fat, manage your weight long-term (The Fast 800 Series) (pp. 35-37). Short Books. Kindle Edition.
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