Last year I fell ill and have been in a wheelchair ever since. I have blood clots in both my legs, so my mobility is limited, and in the last year I’ve gone from actively working full time to being in a wheelchair and not moving - and the consequence has been gaining 4st 7lb in weight. I was struggling to bend down to put my compression stockings on and wash the lower half of my body, so I was relying heavily on my wife for this care. I thought ‘enough is enough’ - I had to stop making excuses and help myself. My Mum told me about Slimming World on Referral in Lincolnshire, so I went online and contacted One You Lincolnshire to see if I was eligible for a 12-week referral, and thankfully I was accepted.
I would not have joined Slimming World if I hadn’t had the referral, so I was a bit hesitant when I first went to group as I'm male, and when you think of Slimming World you automatically think it's for women, but I could not have been more wrong. There were two other male members in my group, and they welcomed me with open arms - it is like a little family. My consultant Jo is amazing and made me feel at ease straight away. She has continuously helped me through my weight loss journey through both the highs and the lows; I can always count on Jo to set me straight. She is a credit to Slimming World, and I would like to make it clear that had it not been for Jo, I would not be where I am now, so I am truly thankful.
Being overweight was affecting my health and I was getting out of breath even going up and down the stairs. I could not just blame this on my poor mobility as it was my weight which was making things even harder. Now I have lost nearly 3 stone I feel so much better and have more energy and, although my mobility is still affected, I find it easier to move about. Finally, now I am in control, and it is so much easier.
Losing nearly 3 stone has helped me no end. I can now care for my own personal hygiene and can now bend down to put on my stockings. I still have a way to go but now feel I’m heading in the right direction. Losing weight has motivated me to make other changes to my lifestyle too: I have not had a drink for over three months now. Not that I drank a lot, only on weekends, but I was drinking fruit cider which is full of sugar and was adding to my weight gain. I have now started swimming again as this is a good exercise for me and even though I can’t kick my legs, I'm still working my upper body.
The best thing that’s happened as a result of my weight loss is that my mobility has improved, and I am gaining more confidence. I still have a way to go but I am heading in the right direction, and the thing I love most about Slimming World is that I am not on a diet. I can have small treats in moderation which makes me feel better than if I were to say ‘I am on a diet and I can't have this, that, etc’. My consultant Jo is absolutely the main reason I have lost weight. By staying to group, the talks Jo gives us are not only motivating but, because she has been through the same thing, she knows when I'm struggling and, even though there are lots of us, she makes me feel like she is my personal weight loss coach and takes the time to help me out.
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