August 28 2006   

Briony

Country: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Age: 39
Weight before diet: just shy of 100 kg
Weight now: 73.3 kg
Target weight: 63 kg

For Briony, self-discipline is essential in her goal to lose a certain amount of weight by Christmas. But that doesn't mean depriving herself of good food and treats. With Weight Watchers, she has found a program that allows her to select what and when to eat, a program that she plans to follow for life.

-What finally made you decide to start with a weight loss program?
After having my son in 2004 I was very heavy. It was a hot summer and I was very uncomfortable and always trying to cover up in long sleeves and pants. I was struggling with breast feeding and being a new mother and I ate non-stop. My husband was in charge of groceries (take away) and comfort food. For Christmas that year we went to visit my mother-in-law and I was struggling to get from the floor back onto the lounge after changing my son’s nappies. I decided then that I had to lose some weight, not just for my own good but for my son as well.  I hope that this Christmas I can give myself the present of having lost 30 kilos in two years.

-What type of weight loss program are you following?
Weight Watchers Points system

-Why did you choose this weight watchers diet program?
I chose Weight Watchers because it’s simple.  You don’t have to buy special food, you still control what you eat, and you can have treats as long as you count them. I truly believe that if you’re going to follow a programme, it has to be sustainable for life. I’ve tried many, many diets previously with short-term success only. Weight Watchers lets you choose what you eat and when, and is a realistic way of maintaining your weight for life. 

-How long have you been on your weight loss program?
I started on 1 January 2005.

-What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to help you lose weight and stay fit?
Well I don’t really like physical activities, I’ve never been very sporty, but my husband bought me an iPod for my birthday last year and it has been my saviour. I loaded some of my favourite songs onto it and I go walking. The time goes a lot quicker when you’re listening to upbeat favourite songs that you love!

-What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming?
Peer group pressure.  People who say, "Hey, you’ve lost so much weight you don’t need to worry now, you can eat whatever you want." It’s not true. You can have treats occasionally (what we call 'sometimes foods') but I can never go back to the way I used to eat. I would just put all the weight back on.  Weight Watchers is a change for life, not just a couple of weeks to fit into a dress or impress someone. If you really want to be slim and healthy you need to make these changes for good.  Quick fixes and 'drop a dress size' diets only work short term, if you go back to the way you were eating, or not exercising, you will regain all of the weight you lost and more!

-How do you keep yourself motivated? 
This is a tough one. I have a two-year-old who hasn’t slept through a night in a long time and sleep deprivation is the worst thing for my motivation. I read a lot of blogs and I have a lot of online friends who help. Reading other people’s stories and seeing how they cope with weight loss and their lives really helps.  Other than that I always keep in the forefront of my mind the fact that being healthier and fitter will give my son a better chance at being healthier and fitter too.

-Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers?
Drink a lot of water; it helps to flush out your system.

If you don’t like exercise start off easy. Don’t try and throw yourself into high impact aerobic exercise seven days a week when you first start. Anything is better than nothing; start with a five-minute walk and build up from there. The hardest step is the first one.

The best advice of all is that if you have a bad day and eat more than you should have, just start again. Don’t beat yourself up; we’re all human and we all fall off the wagon every now and again. Start with one meal, build up from there, and before you know it you will have a whole week where you’ve eaten within points and the scales will reward you.

-Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old lifestyle pattern? How do you prevent this from happening? 
I think it would be very easy to fall back into my old patterns if I let myself, but I’m not going to do that. Feeling lighter, thinner and healthier is the best motivation for weight loss. Knowing that my son will grow up being healthy is also the best bonus from all of this.(Oh, and buying my new size 12 jeans!!)

-Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helps or inspires you to lose weight?
I have loads that I read. Mine own blog is Weight Loss 2 - The Meltdown. There are so many blogs out there that if you have the time to scan a few I’m sure you could find someone whom you'll click with and who will really help you on your journey.