A Lincoln breast cancer survivor has lost an impressive five stone in just over a year.
In a bid to improve her overall health, 67-year-old Andrea Paterson dropped 5st and 1lb in 14 months after joining Slimming World.
She quickly became a ‘Diamond Member’ at the Lindum Sports Association group in Lincoln, run by Jenni Bagnall.
Also a Type 2 diabetic, Andrea wanted to improve her health because she did not want to “grow old looking fat and frumpy”.
Following her weight loss, Andrea says she now takes any medication for her diabetes – compared to having to take “a lot” in last year.
Combining exercise and dietary changes, Andrea has been classed as an “inspirational and amazing member” by her group.
Sharing her weight loss secrets, Andrea said: “Climbs up and down stairs worked body magic.”
During the first national lockdown, Andrea virtually climbed the height of The Shard in London from the comfort of her own home.
(Image: Slimming World)
Andrea has also made small changed to her diet, saying her favourite meal before joining Slimming World was “steak, chips and salad with lots of mayo”.
She now enjoys “steak, Slimming World’s chips, salad with dressing made from quark and mustard power”.
Slimming World has shared their ‘top healthy lockdown tips’ to help you stay fit and healthy during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A spokesperson said: “Everyone’s circumstances will be different, yet there are some tips that will apply to most of us during these challenging times, especially when it comes to staying fit and healthy – which is more important than ever.”
Top tips from Slimming World
Fall in love with food
It’s so easy to get stuck in a bit of a rut when it comes to cooking.
Do you find yourself making the same handful of meals on repeat every week?
If so, you could take this time to try something new.
It doesn’t have to be too complicated or time consuming – just something that makes you feel excited about cooking again.
Or maybe it’s finally finding something to do with that ingredient that’s been lurking at the back of your store-cupboard for a while – that tin of chickpeas could make a delicious homemade hummus or that bag of quinoa could be your new salad superstar!
Many people have found solace in baking, too – and there’s no need to miss out on that because you’re following Slimming World!
Banana bread seems to be the hottest trend at the moment, so why not have a go at the Slimming World-friendly version which you can find on the Slimming World blog.
If you’ve got kids at home they’re sure to enjoy helping out too. Just call it home economics!
Stay in touch
It’s easy to feel isolated during lockdown – as well as missing family and friends, just missing your normal day-to-day routine can have a big impact on the way you feel and, as a result, your eating and activity habits.
Staying connected is now more important than ever – and not just for your weight loss. Sometimes you just need a laugh with your mates to lift your spirits!
Video calls are, of course, hugely popular during lockdown – things like scheduling a date with your mates and coming together online to replace that monthly night out, or booking a family quiz night and testing your loved ones’ general knowledge.
Don’t forget to make some healthy snacks to nibble while you’re catching up too! Lots of Slimming World members have made firm friends at their local groups and when we took the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our groups it was clear there would be thousands of Consultants and members missing the camaraderie and support of their Slimming World groups, too.
That’s why we’ve launched virtual groups.
Whether it’s attending your weekly group, chatting via a closed Facebook group or sharing successes via WhatsApp, it’s so important to make the most of every ounce of support if you’re trying to manage your weight.
Visit slimmingworld.co.uk for more information on our virtual service, or contact your local Consultant directly.
Take control
It might seem silly to suggest taking time out when many of us are spending more time at home than ever, but it’s still important to practice a little self-care.
There’s a lot happening in the world that we can’t control and that can start to impact our motivation to stay in control of our eating and activity habits, but actually looking after ourselves is something we can control.
So as well as staying on track with any healthy eating plans or keeping up with your regular activity, it’s important to schedule in some ‘me’ time too.
Run a hot bubble bath and give yourself a pamper, pop on your favourite podcast (have you subscribed to the Slimming World Podcast yet?) or settle down with a book or magazine (we highly recommend Slimming World Magazine, of course!).
Get active
Your usual gym might be closed but there are still plenty of ways to get active in lockdown, if you’d like to. Remember exercise isn’t just good for your body – it’s a great mood-booster too.
There are loads of online classes you can try out – from HIIT to salsa-cize.
Current guidelines also suggest we can get out limitlessly in our local area to be physically active, so fit in a daily walk if you can, or set yourself a challenge like completing Couch to 5K. Of course, activity doesn’t have to mean running or aerobics though – it can be something as simple as weeding in the garden (harder than you’d think!) or getting some DIY and spring cleaning done.
Anything that raises your heart rate counts!
Soothe your mind
In these challenging times, people will be feeling more worried and anxious than usual, and these feelings could have an impact on us making healthy choices and see us turn to food for comfort.
If current events on the news are a trigger for you, try to limit your exposure.
Make your own playlists rather than listening to the radio, scroll through just one social media channel, and enjoy a Netflix fix rather than watch live TV. Let those around you know if it makes you feel uncomfortable to talk about current affairs, too.
Focusing on the present moment – mindfulness – to calm your mind in times of uncertainty can be really helpful. Colouring books, jigsaws and word puzzles are useful activities for this.
Also, there are apps that guide you through techniques to help ease anxiety or panic. Follow your ordinary routine as much as possible, and keep a sense of normality, whether that’s packing up your lunch the night before, dressing in work clothes if you’re working from home, taking a nice hot shower or doing your hair and make-up.
Public Health England’s campaign ‘Every Mind Matters’ has some great pointers and suggestions to help with mental wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak. Search ‘Every Mind Matters’ to find.
