When did you decide to make a lifestyle change?
It all began when my boyfriend proposed to me and I decided I wanted to look and feel good for our wedding, which is planned for 22nd December 2020.
I am 44 years old and after trying every well-known diet in the past over the last 2 years, I had just given up and thought nothing would work for me, every other “diet” was boring and unsustainable.
I saw a Facebook ad for Second Nature and after reading the reviews I decided that an NHS endorsed plan had to give me a healthier lifestyle. I wanted to feel better, instead of tired and bloated. I wanted to feel motivated and make sure food became an enjoyable fuel instead of a comfort blanket that made me feel worse. I also knew I was drinking wine each evening with dinner for the sake of it!
On the 30th of September, my life changed; I started the Second Nature programme.
How has the experience been so far?
I have lost 2 stone and 2lbs so far (in ten weeks). I have gone from a 22 dress size to a 16. And with the help of the NHS’ Couch to 5K, I have started running three times a week and have gone from not exercising at all to being able to enter my first 5k park run.
The biggest difference for me is the increase in energy and sheer enjoyment I am getting from focusing on my life. I don’t think about what I’ll be eating or drinking anymore because meal planning and batch cooking have become part of my life. It actually gives me more free time to do the things that matter like walking, running, and spending time with friends and family, who have been amazingly supportive. I had the courage to tell them I was doing this programme and they didn’t think poorly of me, they just helped.
My health coach, Marianne, has been amazing, even helping me to choose from menus if I had to be eating out for a work meeting or if I wasn’t sure what was best in a recipe. The group have been so supportive, we have lost over 10 stone collectively which is so motivating. The article I found most helpful was about mindfulness, I now eat without distraction, I enjoy and savour the moments and move on totally satisfied without seeking biscuits, cakes, or desserts.
Next steps
I plan on continuing in the community groups because I find that on hand help is invaluable and reassuring. Second Nature has changed my life and given me everything I hoped to have; I am now a happy, healthy me. I always wanted to be involved with running but never dared to think I could do it, and now I am a runner!
No words can describe the feeling when I’ve finished a run, it gives me so much energy and joy!
Thanks for reading my story, to those who want to give it go, just do it and never look back. Read every article, devour all the advice, and add a little bit of exercise each day. It really is life-changing.
You can read more Second Nature stories here.
