Take a peek at the forums and chances are you’ll come across a message of support, a chat, a joke or an inspiring idea exchange from Club member, LittlerLeanne. Look closer and you’ll find that she has now reached her goal weight. Yet, her enthusiasm hasn’t waned – it’s as strong as ever. In fact, the chance to interact with like-minded people and share words of motivations on the forums was a big reason that Leanne got involved with The Biggest Loser Club in the first place.
Leanne explains, “Taking part in the forums was a really big part of my own, personal success. Talking about those steps forward, about setbacks and about life in general really kept me motivated and focussed on my own journey.”
Back to the beginning...
But let’s get back to the beginning of Leanne’s success story and the reason that mum and 40-something medical executive assistant from Picton, NSW, decided to change her life in the first place. Leanne recalls, “I just got sick of being overweight; simple as that. Everything was difficult for me to do. I love my horses and horse riding but being the weight I was meant that I would be huffing, puffing and panting just getting my horse warmed up. I wasn’t enjoying it anymore and was seriously considering giving up riding altogether. During the heat of summer I nearly passed out one day just walking up a hill; I went all dizzy and felt like I wanted to be sick. Simply bending down to pick something up off the ground was an effort. Life just wasn’t enjoyable for me. I felt fat, insignificant and useless.”
So, there was no single ‘moment of truth’ for Leanne, it was more of a series of incidents and the way she was feeling in general which made her determined to live a healthier life. Leanne says, “A photo of me taken riding my horse, belly and backside poking out and looking like an overinflated beach ball was one of those moments. And then there was the time at Christmas when our family went to Melbourne for a shopping trip. My daughter walked out of the shops loaded with armfuls of clothes while I walked out with a couple of pairs of socks for the grandkids. It’s not that I didn’t try on a range of clothes; it was more that nothing fitted me well and I looked awful in anything I liked. I knew that the next step might well be those horrible ‘tent’ dresses and there was no way I was going there!”
Click to enlarge photos
Leanne before
Half-way mark
Leanne after
Getting ready to make the changes
Leanne tried a range of weight reducing diets before The Biggest Loser Club, including Weight Watchers, Sure Slim and Gloria Marshall. All of them brought some successes but as Leanne says, “I never stuck to them as they were all too hard”. Then Leanne saw the advertisement for free registration with The Biggest Loser Club and it was this, and the idea of the online diary that spurred her on to join The Club. She was determined, in the right frame of mind and ready this time...
At the beginning, until she understood her boundaries and was comfortable with living within her daily calorie target, she treated herself as “a food addict”. Leanne was very strict: “If it wasn’t on the menu I wouldn’t eat it,” she says.
Several weeks later, Leanne, whose starting weight was 78.4kg, reached her goal weight of 62kg – an impressive loss of 16.4kg. Having reached a weight she was happy with, Leanne allowed herself to relax a bit, but hasn't forgotten her own journey and why she was travelling on that particular road. Leanne explains, “Relaxing the rules too much is what got me where I was in the first place and I was, and still am, determined never to go back there. Life is to be enjoyed but I am aware of the pitfalls – and I won’t be falling down them.”
Getting used to the new and improved Leanne
Like many of us who lose weight, it takes time to get used to the new and improved version. Writing in the forums after she had achieved her goals, Leanne wrote, “Even at my goal I still don't truly see myself as being thinner. I am trying to convince myself I am, my clothes say so, so does my mirror and so does everyone who speaks about it. But I haven't convinced myself that I am slim yet. So even when you do achieve your goals, I guess it takes time to ‘believe’ it. “
If you haven’t already been motivated by Leanne’s experiences on the forums, or if you are about to start your weight loss journey Leanne says, “Be committed, remember, it does matter – for you and for your family. Yet, the most important person you should be successful for is you. Want it for yourself, change your eating and you will change your life.”
The Leanne of today feels a lot more confident, is proud of herself, feels worthwhile and loves shopping (we’re not sure that this is a positive or a negative, though!). She ends her story with this message, “Learn to say no. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t eat that piece of cake. Make choices – it really is an empowering feeling. Make your decision and be happy – you can do it.”
How Leanne made her announcement
And, celebrating her achievements in the forums, Leanne wrote, “Yes folks that is right. This morning I stepped on the scales and 63.0kg flashed before my eyes. I HAVE ARRIVED AT MY GOAL! OMG – I am beyond excitement! The truth is that I reached my goal during the week but didn't want to celebrate until today on my official weigh-in day. I wore my new dress yesterday as we had a farewell lunch for one of the girls at work and I felt not only one, but a couple of million bucks! Had the photo taken yesterday in readiness. WOOOHOOO TO ME – IT FEELS FANTASTIC! CELEBRATE WITH ME!”
What more can we say?