FROM daily diets of chocolate bars and fast food take-aways to healthy eating and exercise – new friends Chris Heard and Lisa Briggs are shedding the pounds together.
So far between them, the pair have lost almost five stone – and they are well on their way to their target weights.
Along with fellow slimmer Geoff Brett, Chris, 69 and 38-year-old Lisa attend the weekly Slimming World sessions at Meridian Leisure Centre – where Chris and Geoff keep fit and swim regularly. In fact, Lisa and Geoff have recently been crowned Mr and Mrs Slinky 2018, for losing three and a half stone between them.
The trio are telling their stories as figures show rising levels of adult obesity in the Louth area. In 2017/18, a total of 63.7 per cent of all adults in Lincolnshire were overweight or obese and East Lindsey has the highest percentage of those, at 67.8 per cent.
In her early career, Chris used to be a PE teacher and was just nine-and-a-half stone, but a change in profession saw the pounds pile on: “I ran the village shop in Legbourne and the crisps, biscuits and chocolate were too much of a temptation,” she explained.
Chris’ weight got to 18-stone – and her health began to suffer. Type 2 diabetes developed, and she found it increasingly difficult to get around as she once did. With a need to do something Chris, now retired from the retail business, was inspired to join Slimming World by the session leader and consultant at Meridian, Denise Dobbs.
“I knew that Denise had completely changed her life and I thought to myself ‘if she can do it, then so can I. She gave me fantastic encouragement,” she said.
With three-and-a-half stone now gone, Chris feels fitter and healthier than ever before.
“You can still have the odd treat, it is about moderation. And I love the gym and the classes, I try to come at least five-times a week, the atmosphere is great too. Do you know, I think I am fitter now then I was when I was at college,” added Chris.
For Lisa it was family takeaways that were her downfall as her weight ballooned from eight-and-a-half stone before having children, to a much heavier 13-stone. At the time, the family was living in Nottingham.
“We would regularly have McDonalds, KFCs or Dominoes’ pizza delivered – and it wouldn’t be a small, but a medium or large and the more you eat it, the more you crave it,” said Lisa.
The family moved to Louth and as the children grew up Lisa knew she had to act: “We moved here for a better quality of life, and I am not doing this for me, I am doing it for my family,” she added.
Fellow slimmer Geoff, 73, also encouraged men to join the group: “At 15-stone, I am now back down to the weight I was at school,” he said.
Five ways to a fitter and healthier life:
- Don’t skip breakfast. Skipping breakfast won’t help you lose weight. …
- Eat regular meals. …
- Eat plenty of fruit and veg.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Getmore active – why not doing it with us! Call in for your three-day free trial at any of our venues.