I had a wardrobe full of clothes when I started fasting that ranged from size 10 to size 16- a reflection of just how much my weight had ballooned over the years and a depressing collection. The large clothes were the only ones that fit and the gorgeous size 10’s sat sadly waiting for an outing as the years progressed.
I have a particular fav on that rack- a little black dress that was actually a designer item (Lisa Ho) that I couldn’t resist many years ago. It is so sexy and stylish, probably the nicest dress I have ever owned, and I have so many great memories wearing it as a size 10 younger version of me.
With every decade passing my weight crept on towards the size 16’s but I kept a few of those 10’s and that dress, in particular, because I could not bear to part with it. To be honest, I had given up hope that I would ever fit into it but I held onto it anyway.
Here I was working in health with a background in fitness and weight loss. I had seriously not only seen every method of weight loss but tried it as well. You name it, everything from diet programs to low carb, low fat, meal replacement, throwing up with personal trainers pushing me to the limit (well beyond my limits obviously!), I have tried everything to lose weight and keep it off.
Then, after yet another failed at losing weight following a new years resolution, I decided ‘that’s it. This is who I am and I’m OK with that’. I figured I was just at a certain age and stage of life so I would accept this and move away from the torture of miserable low calorie, no treats and hard exercise regimes that I couldn’t stick to anyway as I keep injuring myself.
Then…. I went to a family party where I could hardly recognise my brother-in-law who I had seen only 3 months prior at Christmas. He was literally half the size he was then.
I was so embarrassed I didn’t recognise my own brother-in-law!! I asked him was he sick, what had happened? He said he had never felt better and revealed the new diet he was on that I had heard of called 5:2. I asked him what he ate on those 2 days and was so inspired when he said it was easy! ‘Ok,’ I thought ‘I’ll give this weight loss one more try’. Really I was lying to myself before; of course I did want to lose weight, I just didn’t think it was possible without suffering. Could I get through a really low calorie day?
I did it. I did it a second day. I surprised myself. I did it again the following week. I loved that I could reward myself after a diet day with eating my beloved foods and drink wine. Yay! I could get through 1 day if I knew I wasn’t going to suffer 7 days a week. The weight started to come off.
8 months in and 16 kilos down I started to play with other methods of intermittent fasting (or ‘intermittent eating’ as it should be called as it is really low calorie eating just some of the time).
My Lisa Ho beckoned me. Could I try it on? I was a size 12, could I squeeze into it? I tried and it was on!!! Tight but I could do up the zip. I was breathless in more ways than one! I was so encouraged.
On I progressed, Christmas came and went and I gave myself time out from dieting while on holidays but I found it so easy to go back on the diet I had worked out for myself. I had started to exercise too as I felt like it now. I started walking and eventually returning to the gym.
Time to try on the dress again. Oh my goodness, it fit like a glove! I My husband said I was looking hot (yay!), my daughter and Mum were noticing too, in fact lots of people were finally noticing. One of my previous disappointments was when I had managed to lose weight but no-one had said anything. Not this time.
I kept going, I had surpassed my first 2 goals. I had never thought I could get back below 75 kilos, then 70 kilos, 65, 60? I am only 5’3 and when I was in my 20s and a size 8, I was 53 kilos when I was married.
It was easy to keep going, it was not affecting my lifestyle. I could go out and socialise and eat and drink what I loved and just dieted some of the time.
Then one day my daughter asked if she could buy some jeans on a sales rack. There was only a size 10, a bit big for her but she wears them baggy. I agreed to buy them if I could fit into them too and we could share them. My heart was beating so fast. Could I possibly fit into them?
They fit. I was in shock. The next day I went to all the different shops in the mall and tried on all different styles and brands of jeans. They fit. Jackets were fitting too. I was euphoric. Could it be true?
My friend shouted me to photo shoot. I took my beloved Lisa Ho. To my disbelief it was way too big and the photographer had to clamp it in.
Finally I knew I was never going back. The size 10 jeans were now too big too. I kept going and hit my goal of 53 kilos. I had now lost 30 kilos. Size 8 jeans were my new size.
My wardrobe now had size 8s! I packed up the 14 and 16s and most of the 10s that were just too big. I had to start to dress in tighter fitting clothes as kaftans just didn’t suit me anymore. But I still have my Lisa Ho. It reminds me of the dream that kept me going for the 18 months and now the 4 years I have kept the weight off.
This is the best thing I have ever done….. so much so that I have co-founded this program based on the methods that worked for me as I want other to share in it too.