Search Weight Loss Topics:




Jan 1

The 15 inspiring Devon people who have achieved phenomenal weight loss – Devon Live

How to lose weight quickly Comments Off on The 15 inspiring Devon people who have achieved phenomenal weight loss – Devon Live

We all know what should be doing to be fit and healthy, but the thought of having to lose weight or start exercising is often so daunting that it's easier to put it off.

Millions of people in 2020 will be making new year's resolutions to lose weight and get healthy and to give you the motivation you need, Devon Live has chosen 15 inspiring people from across the county who have achieved incredible goals.

They range from a family who have lost 15st between them to a woman who not only battled cancer but conquered her weight demons and got married.

Chris, Gareth and Aimee Pridham

Struggling to get in an airplane seat four years ago was the turning point for Chris Pridham.

His experience at the airport "set the tone" for the whole holiday and due to his 24 stone weight, he could not partake in all of the activities with his partner and old friends.

After two weeks back at home he ended up in hospital with an infected mosquito bite and got sepsis and cellulitis.

He then joined his nearest WW workshop in Saltash and lost more than six stone.

Chris said: "Basically, I was given a daily budget of smart points and every food had a value. It was up to me to balance my budget which I did and in a short space of time, I lost two stone and went to New York with my partner to visit my daughter.

"I could walk around and thought, this is brilliant.

I love bread and before joining WW would have three or four slices of thick white bread with lashings of butter and marmalade for breakfast, a big sandwich for lunch and a huge dinner. I now start the day with fruit and yoghurt; at lunchtime I have two slices of granary bread with a boiled egg and salad; dinner is stir fry veg with left over roast meat.

"I eat a lot of salad and am never hungry! I dont deny myself anything and have realised you have to have a bit of what you fancy otherwise you dont stick to it."

Research carried out by WW has identified what is known as the ripple effect.

This shows that when somebody joins a weight loss programme, the other members of the family can lose weight too without even trying as they are influenced by the new healthy habits they see.

Chris's nephew Gareth and his wife Aimee watched his transformation and were so impressed they joined the same WW workshop. Between the three of them they lost 15st.

Bonnie Stainer

Had someone told Devon DJ Bonnie Stainer four years ago she would be crowned UK Glamour Awards Model of the Year she would never have believed it because back then she weighed more than 16.5st.

Despite being a single mum of two girls, aged five and four, the 35-year-old, of Saunton, North Devon, has found the time to exercise six days a week and eat healthily to lose an amazing 8.5st.

Bonnie, who is 5ft 7, has seen her waist shrink by an incredible 30 inches from 56 to 26 inches, and now weighs 9st.

She had been considering quitting her DJ career because she had lost her confidence to get up on stage when she was overweight, but is now getting more work than ever and is also working as a model.

Bonnie recalled: I hadnt been overweight until I fell pregnant with my first child. I just ate literally whatever I was not meant to, which I enjoyed at the time, but I pilled on the pounds. The last time I weighed myself I was 16.5st.

After I gave birth I tried to lose the weight and feel like me again, but within six months I was pregnant with my second daughter and it happened all over again.

I need an incentive to get myself into the right state of mind so I decided to raise money for Cancer Research by signing up for the London Marathon in 2017.

I was down to about 12st when I did it and just kept going with exercising and eating healthy.

Bonnie added: The key is being in the right frame of mind, along with routine, exercise, eating well and drinking water.

I workout six days a week and try to rest one day a week, but Im still active running around after the kids. Sometimes I get up at 6am and do 30 minutes on the cross trainer wearing 27 kilos of weights. People think that sounds a lot but I was carrying a lot more than that when I was overweight.

I also go to the gym, run and I have two horses so I enjoy horse riding. Sometimes I do look at my cross trainer and think I cant be bothered, then all I do is just think about what Im trying to achieve and after Ive done it I feel so much better."

Tracey May

An inspirational slimmer who has lost nearly 5st in less than six months has told how she has gone from barely ever leaving her home to finding a new zest for life at the age of 53 years old.

Tracey May, of Exeter, saw the pounds pile on after undergoing spinal surgery three years ago to remove a tumour.

Her recovery took many months and it began a pattern of living an inactive lifestyle which she struggled to break the heavier she got.

However, since completely changing her lifestyle in March she has lost almost a third of a body weight. She has gone from 15st 10lbs to 11st, and dropped from a size 20 to almost a size 12.

The mum-of-three joined Wonford Sports Centre in March, and has gone from struggling to do two minutes on the cross trainer on the lowest setting, to doing an hour easily.

She goes a couple of times a week, has joined a Back to Netball team and a running club, and also goes swimming if she finds the time during the week.

Traceys initial goal was to lose 3st in a year, but she has done so well that she has doubled her target.

She said: I want to be 9st 10 and that will be exactly 6st I have lost. I havent been on a diet as such but what I have done is switch everything from full fat to low fat and sugar free, and have swapped coke for water.

Ive always now got fruit and vegetables in the house, and I cook everything from scratch. I also dont eat fast food, but I do have the odd treats.

She said: I only went out if I had to which was maybe twice a week, if that, because it was just so painful. Everything hurt because of how heavy I was.

I got depressed and thought this is it. My confidence was so low. I now feel 100 per cent better. I used to take a lot of painkillers but dont take any now, and Ive also come off anti-depressants. It really has changed my life."

Mandy Coles

A Tavistock mum who lost more than 12 stone believes there's a simple solution to weight loss - taking time out - and now she is urging parents to take time for themselves to change their lives too.

Mandy Coles reached 24 stone at her heaviest weight but astonishingly she managed to shed the pounds and drop to an impressive 11.5st in just 14 months, after joining Slimming World.

Since losing the weight, Mandy' slife has changed dramatically and she is now helping others as a Slimming World consultant and whilst working with other slimmers.

She says she often meets parents who would just love to lose weight and lead a healthier lifestyle, but they feel that their life as a busy parent is preventing them from making those changes.

Mandy explained that one of the greatest gifts she has gained as a result of her weight loss is the drive and physical ability to play with her six-year-old son.

She said: "Actually having the energy to be the mum I have always wanted to be is priceless and taking that time for me to go to group each week was worth every moment".

She added: "Taking that one hour a week to attend a group is an investment in your and your familys future happiness.

"It is also an hour of you time which you do deserve. Sometimes I hear parents say they cant get that time for themselves, so I want to urge them to find that time.

"It is something you never regret as you and your family will benefit from a much healthier and happier you and that is priceless.

Dr Katie Giddy-Pannell

A Plymouth GP lost a whopping 5st 2lbs and is now able to motivate patients with her lose weight.

Due to her profession, she said she "should know better" but with a vegan diet, a supportive exercise class, and Slimming World online, she has managed to shed some weight and control her lupus, a chronic health conditon.

The 41-year-old underwent the dramatic transformation in just over a year and has seen drastic improvements to her health.

She said: "I was getting terrible debilitating back pain, out of breath, swollen legs. Just generally felt unhealthy, especially in the heat.I had no energy, no get up and go.

"Now, my health is better, less back pain and other joint pain, I have a chronic health condition called lupus, which is better controlled with my diet now, and the exercise."

Katie advises anyone who wishes to lose weight to find an eating plan that suits them and to ensure that they do not make something up, as planning is key.

She said: "I would advise others to find an eating plan that suits them and stick to it, don't try to make it up, a small under-calculation in calories could mess up a lot of hard work. Eat loads of veg and group exercise is also important."

Katie credits her weight loss to RockFit, which has kept her "motivated" and has meant that she has formed life-long friendships, some of which encourage her to attend classes on days where she feels "exhausted" after work.

She added: "I've lost five stone by doing Slimming World online, RockFit and a bit of running, but it is RockFit that's kept me motivated and help change my body shape."

couple fromBrixhamlost a staggering nine stone between them after realising they were both unhappy with their weight.

Joanne and Scott Mason

After a combined weight loss of 13.5lbs with the help of their local Slimming World group inBrixham, Joanne and Scott Mason reached the semi-finals of the organisations Couple of the Year 2019 competition along with only 17 other couples from across the UK and Ireland.

JoanneandScottbelieve the secret of their success was getting support from one another at home, as well as each week at their Slimming World group.

Joanne,48, who slimmed from15st5lbs to9st, said: I knew that my weight was an issue and I was becoming more and more uncomfortable in my own skin, but I didnt really know where to start when it came to losing weight.

"The lightbulb moment came whenScotttold mehewas unhappy withhisweight too. Wed heard great things about Slimming World, and it seemed to be the perfect fit for us.

"We knew that we needed the encouragement of a group each week and that wed support each other along the way too."

Scott,45, who downsized from16st3.5lb to12st9lbs, added: It came as a huge relief once I realised thatJoannewanted to lose weight too, because I knew that by supporting each other to make healthier choices it would give us both a brighter future and it absolutely has we have a whole new lease of life.

"Losing weight also made us think about how active we were. Weve started walking regularly now and we love it!

"Joining Slimming World is one of the best decisions weve ever made. We feel great and we know that we have a long, healthy, happy life to look forward to together.

Elly Dickinson

No one was more surprised by Elly Dickinson's amazing weight loss, and she says she doesn't even recognise the person in old photographs now.

As she is only 5ft 2in tall, Elly says her 31lbs weight loss shows more on her than it would on a taller person.

And she admits that she found if difficult to track down old 'before' pictures to demonstrate her weight loss because she would never stand in front of a camera and always deleted 'horrible' pictures of herself because she didn't like how she looked.

Now 31-year-old Elly, who works as a relationship executive for Newcross Healthcare in Torquay, says her confidence has soared and she's happy in her own skin - eating and exercising healthily.

She said: "With Weight Watchers - or WW as it's now called - you don't ever feel like you are losing out. I have managed to keep it on track without much effort. You always know where you are without getting obsessed about food because it's so maintainable.

"It's been great for my confidence - amazing!"

Laura Gilpin

An overweight grandma, who temporarily lost the site in one eye at a celebratory barbecue, has gone on a mammoth diet after being told her weight contributed to her having a mini stroke.

Laura Gilpin, of Newton Abbot, had her out of the blue health scare while celebrating her grandchilds football team in 2015, but still continued to pile on the weight.

It wasnt until last year that she finally decided to get fit and healthy and set herself a target of losing a stone a month.

The 62 year old joined LighterLife last July, and succeeded by losing an incredible 5st 2lbs in just five months. Her weight dropped from 17st 6lb to 12st 4lb.

She said: Losing 5st has been life changing in so many ways. Im no longer on blood pressure medication, I have the energy to keep up with my grandchildren and Im now enjoying cooking for the first time. It feels amazing to have my zest for life back."

Fern Parkin and Jacqui Blackman

A mother and daughter from Barnstaple who both beat cancer have also had their lives transformed by an incredible weight loss.

Fern Parkin, 32 and mother Jacqui Blackman, 68, lost 5st 5lbs between them. Fern was diagnosed with liver cancer at the age of six months, while her mother beat ovarian cancer in 2004 aged 54.

Fern thanked the team at WW (formerly Weight Watchers) for her newfound self-confidence. She added that she is no longer afraid to show her scars from surgery when she was a baby.

She said: I love the fact that I can roll over my points and add them to my weekly points. I have lost all my weight through WW, and I love that I can eat what I like as long as it's within my points. My mindset has changed completely, and I've never lasted this long on a diet. This is me for life now, being careful what I eat.

Jacqui added: After starting the program in January 2018 when a group opened up near me, I have never looked back, only forward to losing the next pound. I have found the plan so easy to follow, and there was no need to change my shopping habits greatly.

The app is an invaluable tool which keeps you on track, and weekly meetings are an inspiration. Even my health has improved as I no longer require tablets for high blood pressure which is huge.

My husband has also benefited just by eating smaller portions which the plan helps you to do. I have dropped two dress sizes and now able to wear more fashionable clothes.

I have been able to enjoy holidays and not gain more than 1lb which has always come off the following week."

Sharon Foxhall

A woman who lost weight in honour of her mother has been able to once again wear the wedding dress she made for her.

Sharon Foxhall, 47, from Hawkchurch, married in September 1993 after a five year courtship. At the time it was the lowest weight she had ever been.

She said: My mum made my wedding dress along with the bridesmaids. We decided to have a party for our 25th as its such a big milestone but then I lost both my parents within months of each other four years ago.

Sharon vowed to get to her target weight after her mother died in 2015 as she had always struggled with her weight. After 18 months she had lost three stone after joining WW (Weight Watchers).

She said: I joined WW as I had issues with my knees and I though losing weight would help them. As I lost weight my knees started to improve along with my self-esteem and confidence. It totally changed my life and wanted to give that feeling to others, so I became a coach to help others achieve what I had. It has been the most remarkable work I have ever done, seeing lives unfold and change over the weeks and months.

We booked our party in January 2018 for that September and decided I wanted to wear my dress again. I lost a further stone and got into my dress as if Id only just stepped out of it, it was amazing.

"I hadnt seen the dress since the day we got married and so was a very emotional moment opening the case and seeing it for the first time in 25 years, the dress my mum made.

More here:
The 15 inspiring Devon people who have achieved phenomenal weight loss - Devon Live

Related Posts

    Your Full Name

    Your Email

    Your Phone Number

    Select your age (30+ only)

    Select Your US State

    Program Choice

    Confirm over 30 years old

    Yes

    Confirm that you resident in USA

    Yes

    This is a Serious Inquiry

    Yes

    Message:



    matomo tracker