I attended my GP's surgery for my annual health MOT, and the result, I was pre-diabetic with a very high blood sugar level of 48. My gp suggested I take part in the NHS Healthier You (NDPP) programme with the WW weight-loss programme. I’ve suffered with my weigh for a long time and tried unsuccessfully to lose weigh before on many different plans. I knew I needed to change my lifestyle and decided to give it a go. At first, I was sceptical, as in the past I was totally obsessed with the reading on the scales. This time however, I was being educated.
I’ve had health issues for many years, that have affected my wellbeing. After the birth of both my children, I experienced years of anxiety problems, for which I took prescribed medication for many years, and also suffered a malignant melanoma, from which I’m now clear from.
I also suffered from digestion problems combined with IBS, and these restricted every aspect of my life as I was unable to venture far from home. Consequently, I then developed painful problematic joints and, all this combined led to a disrupted sleep pattern, and I struggled most days without very little proper quality and rest.
I was unable to sustain any distance walking and found climbing stairs difficult. I continued with day-to-day household chores, but always felt exhausted, and out of breath.
I started the plan at the end of January 2020, then lockdown happened in March. I was focused that I was going to stay on track, and I continued tracking my meals daily. I could do this. I then decided I had to get over my technology fear and started joining the WW online virtual workshops. WW made it so easy, and this was a light bulb moment for me.
I have explored, embraced, and enjoyed every aspect of this wonderful WW plan. I tackled the four pillars of WW which are, healthier eating, activity, mindset, and sleep, and one at a time I embraced everything I was being taught. With the amazing help of WW coaches, and fellow members, and all the extensive advice available I started to feel so much better.
I was able to start exercising more, and I can now sustain 30 minutes jogging, walk on average between 12 - 15 thousand steps daily, hula-hooping, exercise bike. The list is endless, and my stamina is now boundless. I now enjoy challenging myself, and I have utilised the 5-minute coaching on the ww app, as well as the fitness sections, and they are amazing. All this combined with the information on healthier eating, mindfulness and activity now means I’m also having a much-improved sleep pattern, and this goes to prove that this concept does work, and from my experience is LIFE CHANGING!
I no longer take ANY medication, I'm no longer at risk of diabetes and I am at goal, a healthy weight which I have been maintaining for a couple of months. My weight has dropped from 14st 13lb to 9st 11lbs. By blood sugar level has dropped from a very high 48 to 42. My clothes size has dropped from a size 20 to a size 10….half the size I used to wear! I now eat healthier filling foods, including lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and I love cooking my food from scratch. I get lots of recipe ideas from the app, so never stuck for new ideas.
What I've learnt courtesy of WW have enabled me to now have a joy and quality of life I haven't had for forty years. And I'm so grateful. This has truly been life changing for me.
My mantra is: - Believe in yourself, aim high, don't tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon!
I intend to live each day to the full and I'm so grateful to have been given this opportunity. Thank you to the NHS and WW, as I would never have achieved this without your help and intervention.
LIFE IS GOOD.