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Jun 8

Size 26 teacher hit her 100lb weight loss goal in lockdown – MyLondon

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A size 26 teacher hit her 100lb weight loss target in lockdown after being worried her size made her an embarrassment to her children.

Weighing 20st 10lb, Teresa Clark had been overweight since her teens, but reached a turning point in May 2019 when she saw the impact being a "fat mum" was having on her 11 and 13-year-old children.

Now a size 16 and weighing 13st 8lb, Teresa, of Colchester, Essex, whose husband, Paul, 45, runs a printing business, said: I was overweight as a teen and throughout my adult life I would diet or try different plans, but I always ended up putting the pounds back on again.

The 43-year-old continued: Then, last year, it got to the point where I thought, I dont want to be an embarrassment to my kids anymore. I want to be able to take them swimming without being self-conscious or worrying what people think of their mum.

I realised that if I didnt address my weight, I could cause myself health issues. I was just getting bigger and I didnt want that.

Starting the day with a big bowl of cereal, Teresa snacked on chocolate whenever she was stressed at work before finishing the day with a quick and unhealthy meal, like a cheese-laden pizza.

At just five feet tall, her body mass index (BMI) used to gauge a healthy weight was 56.9 compared to the NHS recommended levels of between 18.9 and 24.5, making her obese.

She explained: My job was quite stressful, so Id find myself reaching for the chocolate quite a lot. That would be my go-to thing.

I wouldnt cook particularly healthy meals in the evening either. I didnt put a lot of thought into my diet and was not particularly good at portion control. My evening meal was probably bigger than it should have been.

She continued: Id have a big bowl of cereal for breakfast, then a sandwich, crisps and chocolate for lunch then something like a chicken kiev or pizza for dinner.

For ages I put off losing weight, though, choosing to cover up my body whenever we were on holiday or going swimming instead.

People know me as a confident person. Im always smiling and Ive been very lucky because nobody has bullied me or made comments about my weight, but I realise now my confidence was quite low.

In May 2019, Teresa joined slimming club WW and following its points-based plan losing more than half a stone in the first month.

I started to feel a bit better. My jeans felt looser and going to WW every week and being weighed made me feel motivated to keep it up, she said.

My confidence grew as I started to shrink.

She continued: Now I will make something healthy for breakfast, like a banana muffin with oats. Ill have a salad for lunch and a healthy tea like Bolognese made with turkey mince. I dont deprive myself and still have treats, such as chocolate, as long as I stick within my points.

After losing four stone by the October, I started exercising. I did not want to go to the gym as I was still self-conscious around other people, but I had an exercise bike and would use that for half an hour.

Then I bought a cross trainer and now do 12km every other day. I would never have done that before losing the weight.

She continued: Its wonderful that I can now go shopping online and see something I want to buy without worrying whether they will have my size. I have so much more freedom.

Her greatest supporters throughout her amazing transformation have been her children, according to Teresa.

My kids have been so supportive. They keep saying, Go on Mum, youre doing brilliantly'," she said.

She continued: And the children at school have also been really encouraging. Theyre a great bunch and have noticed a big difference, so thats been lovely.

Spurred on by her WW coach Emilie and continuing to weigh in on Facebook during lockdown, Teresa who prefers not to name her children was delighted when she reached her goal to shed 100lb in March.

She said: I really never thought I would be able to get this far in a year.

She said: My WW coach Emilie has been wonderful as well. She has been there through everything.

I actually reached 100lb down during lockdown, which I was so proud of.

It is a strange time and lockdown can really throw you off. Trying to lose weight, juggle the kids at home and work, too, is hard.

She continued: A lot of us probably arent doing as much exercise as we would normally, but if I can reach my weight loss target, I want other people to realise they can, too.

I have been taking it one day at a time. If I stumble and have a bad day, I do not worry about it. I start the next day with a clean slate and keep going. I dont stress over having bad days and try not to be hard on myself.

I would rather be where I am now than where I was before.

She added: Theres such an improvement in my health, which has been helped by using the cross trainer and I feel much fitter.

Im confident about how I look now and Im more willing to try new styles.

I can honestly say Im the happiest Ive ever been.

Continued here:
Size 26 teacher hit her 100lb weight loss goal in lockdown - MyLondon

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