Weight Loss Success Stories

My weight was causing damage to my body and depriving my children of a healthy active mother.

I've been overweight since I've been a teenager and although there were points in my life where I actually managed to reach a weight I was happy with, I could never maintain it. As soon as I stopped starving myself or started eating foods that I enjoyed, the pounds just started piling back on.

To be honest, I was incredibly critical, so nothing besides the perfect body was good enough, which was my biggest downfall. If I couldn't do it perfectly and quickly, there was no point at all. In a way, I started giving up on my weight loss efforts right after my first son was born, as I simply didn't have the time or the motivation to embark on another fad diet or unsustainable eating plan.

This was until I did a BMI calculation in a magazine and discovered that I was actually classed as obese. I also spoke to my doctor who warned me of the risks of being overweight and recommended that I start eating more sensibly and being more active as soon as possible.

It was just the shock that I needed to jilt me into action! I had felt so helpless about my weight, I'd let it take over, to the point where I wasn't myself anymore. My weight was causing damage to my body and depriving my children of a healthy active mother. Although I am not a big fan of prescription medications, and try to avoid them if I can, I felt that I required a bit more help to get me started. I needed to lose the weight and reclaim my health, so I needed to be serious, and I couldn't afford to become demotivated as I did in the past.

This is why I opted for Xenical. Although I didn't see results straight away and it was still a struggle to change to a healthier lifestyle, I definitely noticed that I lost weight much quicker than I normally would have done. A year after I started, I've managed to lose 5 stone and although I don't use Xenical anymore, I'd always recommend it as a good way to start. I am now much more active than I used to be, and I can't ever see me going back to being 16st again.

Celia

I decided to do some research on the different treatments available and discovered that because of my weight I'd be able to qualify to use Xenical.

I used to be 7 stone over my healthy weight, which basically meant that I had a tough time walking from my car to the office, let alone doing any kind of exercise, so losing weight always seemed like an insurmountable challenge when I started. Particularly since I had loads to lose! Although I'd start with a lot of enthusiasm, I'd always end up losing interest, either because stress took over or I was placing myself in situations where it was difficult for me to maintain a diet or eating plan.

However at the start of 2009, I finally decided to become serious about losing weight and getting into shape. I decided to do some research on the different treatments available and discovered that because of my weight I'd be able to qualify to use Xenical, however I really didn't have many other options, apart from all the herbal appetite suppressants and carb blockers, which from past experience, I knew was a lot of rubbish.

At first it was a little bit of a struggle cutting down on all the fatty foods, but I was determined and I started noticing results within the first couple of weeks after starting it, which helped with motivation. It took me a couple of months before I felt comfortable enough to start exercising more strenuously, whereas to start off with I mainly walked lots. Although it was difficult to start jogging again (something which I hadn't done since my early 20s), I started to feel better than I've felt in years.

Adding the extra exercise definitely helped, although just walking alongside my new eating plan and medication, gave me much better results than I had anticipated to start off. Two years down the line, I am 7 stone lighter and I still exercise regularly and try and eat as healthy as possible, although one thing I learned was to not deprive myself and to maintain a healthy balance.

James

I really needed to do something about my love of savoury snacks and my desk-bound, inactive existence.

I've never been super skinny, but when I reached my 30s my love of fast foods, savoury snacks and huge portions I used to enjoy finally caught up with me. My weight gain was quite drastic, but snuck up on me. I didn't mind being a bit overweight, but when it started making me feel tired all the time and the doctor started warning me about my blood pressure and cholesterol, I really needed to get myself into gear and do something.

Although I never had a problem with sweet things, I really needed to do something about my love of savoury snacks and my desk-bound, inactive existence, which wasn't going to be easy, as I work late and live alone, getting into a good routine with food was never really a priority.

So I decided to start to make changes to my life. Simply trying to walk places where I'd usually get in my car or use public transport. I also invested in a treadmill and decided to join an exercise class once a week with a friend, which turned out to be a great social experience and extremely motivational. I also avoided buying the things I overindulged in most and really cut down on my portion sizes.

Two and a half years later I am 6stone lighter and being active and healthy is now so much part of my life style that I hardly notice it.

Trish

I lost weight using a combination of exercise, orlistat and a good balanced diet.

I started off at 16st 2lb and now I weigh almost 6 stone less and feel so much better for it. I've done many crazy diets in the past and I've never actually managed to stick to them as they were always from one extreme to the other and not easy to implement practically, especially if you've not been eating the right things for a very long time.

I'd definitely say that actually seeing results, kept me motivated so that I didn't become depressed and drop everything like I used to do.

I was never very active as a child and I come from a family where physical activity was never encouraged, although you were always criticised for not being super skinny. Luckily I realised that my relationship with food and my weight wasn't really conducive to help me lose it, so I decided to get support and advice from my doctor, to ensure that I am actually successful this time in order to make sure that I didn't affect my health any further.

Now I actually enjoy being active and feel like I'd been missing out on a healthy body and mind my entire life, because I wasn't getting all the exercise I really needed. Three years ago I didn't think it was possible to lose all this weight, but I've got Xenical and an extremely supportive doctor to thank for the kick start.

Amy

My doctor informed me that I really needed to lose weight soon, particularly since my family has a history of cancer, heart disease and cholesterol!

I used to be really scrawny until I reached 19, when it seemed like my metabolism stopped completely and I just started putting on weight. In reality, it probably didn't have anything to do with my metabolism, but more with all the kebabs and late nights out drinking beer and then finally moving in with my girlfriend didn't help either!

We used to cook together, using great big wads of butter, cream, garlic and all sorts of sauces on our foods. Even when we did try and cut down on the rich foods, we managed to create salads with loads of cheese, with a generous splash of French salad dressing. During this time I was also really inactive and extremely stressed at work, which all contributed to me turning towards food as a way to relax, especially when my girlfriend and I use to cook together.

This decadent lifestyle carried on until I was 27, when I paid a visit to my doctor who informed me that I really needed to lose weight soon, particularly since my family has a history of cancer, heart disease and cholesterol! Although I had realised that I'd put on weight, and I had to put up with my family commenting on my weight gain, I'd never realised that I was at a point where I was actually in danger. You always think that you'd know when it was time to take serious action, but as I know now, I'd probably only really have known once it's started causing me to become ill.

After that bombshell, I had no idea where to start and what to do, I spoke to my GP about starting a course of Xenical. He advised me about the possible side effects and the fact that it should still be active and eat healthy while using it.

I started the next week, with my course of Xenical and I also managed to join a gym where my blood pressure was measured and I was given a special exercise routine. I also joined a weight loss club, where I was provided with a 6 month action plan.

It was hard to get into the routine at first, but as soon as I was used to it, I found that it was easy to maintain and the results kept me going. As long as I stuck to a low fat diet and had my vitamins, I didn't have any problems with Xenical at all.

I am now 9st lighter, much happier and although I don't use Xenical anymore, I don't think I'd have been able to get to this point without the additional push.

Mark

I was worried about the way it worked, because I didn't have the same benefits of an appetite suppressant as I would have with Reductil.

I've always struggled with my weight and I've been on all kinds of weight loss treatments, including Reductil and Xenical as well as some of the herbal tea and drops that you get. The first time I had to lose weight, I used Reductil, which worked really well, and it was like I discovered my internal 'stop' button when it came to eating. I managed to lose a substantial amount of weight on it, which I managed to keep off for a good few years.

However, recently I managed to put on quite a lot of weight due to a health problem, and although I am not as big as I was when I used Reductil, I was informed that my health wasn't at a healthy level. At first I struggled to do it on my own, but I wasn't very successful which is when I started using Xenical, because Reductil wasn't available anymore.

I was worried about the way it worked, because I didn't have the same benefits of an appetite suppressant as I would have with Reductil, however I read more about how it worked and gave it a chance. However, this time I actually had to make a conscious effort to eat healthier and do a bit more, which in hind sight was the best thing I could have ever done.

It took time, but within a year, I made loads of progress, and my body is thanking me for it!

Daniel

I decided to set myself a goal of 6 months to lose the weight and go to go to the gym more often and actually prepare meals for myself.

It's crazy to think that I was as overweight as I was when I look back at pictures of myself. It's amazing to be able to buy all the lovely clothes I want to now that I am a small 10st 4lbs, compared to the 19st 9lbs I used to be!

Truth is I never used to care about my weight too much, I am quite social so I go out a lot and I especially like drinking wine, I also think that my diet as a singleton, which consisted of takeaways and ready meals, played a big part in me piling on the pounds in my twenties.

After a friend suggested we start exercising together, I realised how unfit I was and it finally really dawned on me that the way I was living wasn't healthy, and it was actually causing me to feel pretty unhappy most of the time, in particularly how I looked.

I decided to set myself a goal of 6 months to lose the weight and go to go to the gym more often and actually prepare meals for myself, which not only saved me money but also made me feel less hungry all the time. I also cut down on alcohol, which made a big difference and kept track of my progress and took regular pictures of myself which was really motivating.

Although I didn't entirely make the 6 month goal, I got pretty close to it and I am still going strong!

Andrea

When it comes to weight loss, I think it's important to be patient and to get into a good routine.

Until five years ago I'd never been overweight. I've always been sporty and active, meaning that I ate what I wanted without really having to worry about it. However, five years ago, my life completely changed when I split up with my long term partner and I had to cope with the loss of my mother.

Up until my late 30's I'd never really lived alone, which meant that I had to adjust to this new way of life all over again and inevitably I found that coping with many of the emotional burdens of the time much harder to deal with. I felt drained and depressed all the time, which meant that I didn't do sports anymore and I also started eating unhealthily, because I really wasn't taking care of myself.

Luckily I managed to pull through, with loads of help from my friends and family, however I had to cope with all the weight I had put on. A whopping 5stn 9lbs! I'd never really had to think about weight loss before then, but I knew that the fact that I wasn't being as active as I used to be was a big problem.

So I got myself an exercise bike and yoga ball and decided to do exercise every morning before I went to work, which was difficult at the start, but it was more practical than me coming home at 8 in the evenings after work and then exercising. I'd get up a little earlier; do 40mins on the exercise bike and a couple of crunches on the exercise ball.

I managed to lose most of the extra weight in six months, but when it comes to weight loss, I think it's important to be patient and to get into a good routine. I also found that keeping a log of my progress really helped keep me going.

I feel so much better physically since dropping the extra weight, but it's also nice to get the odd complement, as these are the things that keep you going when you most need it.

Karen