A nurse who previously consumed around 6,000 calories a day has described how a major lifestyle change helped her lose nine stone and regain her confidence. Lucy Elliot, 47, from Rushden, Northamptonshire, weighed 20 stone at her heaviest and has since come down to 11st 14lb, going from a size 24 to a size 12.
Food as a crutch during difficult times
Lucy said her relationship with food was shaped by her family background and challenging periods in her life. She told Talk to the Press: "My family have always been big, we grew up with my dad eating pie and chips at the rugby club and weekends were for takeaway.
"I would use food as a crutch for any stress - when I lost anyone or when things got too much I would find myself snacking away with no end." After separating from the father of her children in November 2014, Lucy said she knew she wanted to make a change.
From gym sessions to a sustainable plan
Two months later, she began going to the gym with a personal trainer, but found that exercise alone did not lead to the lasting weight loss she wanted. Lucy explained: "The gym was a good start, but it didn't sustain weight loss, I couldn't get into it.
"However, I had never learnt enough about nutrition, and my personal trainer really helped me get onto a diet that suited me - so I am glad I tried that." Her previous diet included English breakfasts, KFC, frozen pizzas, burgers, chips, Chinese takeaways, crisps, sugar and chocolate.
New eating habits and daily walking
Lucy instead began eating foods such as Weetabix, high-protein wraps with meat, cheese and salad, and meals built around chicken, steak, potatoes and vegetables. She also found an exercise routine that fitted around her duties as a nurse and mother: walking 15,000 steps every day.
She now completes her walk in the morning before work and said the routine has become a regular part of her life. "I am very determined with my walking to keep me fit," Lucy admitted. "It has really worked for me and I find it enjoyable."
Confidence grows and cravings remain
The weight loss has also changed how Lucy feels about clothes and fashion. She said: "I used to see designer clothes in the store and ignore them because its too painful and now I love going to the shops.
"Now I can wear crop tops and show my tummy - I am still getting used to my different size but I feel my confidence growing which is lovely." Lucy admitted she still has to manage cravings for fried food and chocolate when she is stressed, but remains determined to keep up the lifestyle she has built.
"I still want to eat fried food and chocolates when I am stressed because that is the easy thing to do, but I am determined to keep on with my fitness journey."
