It’s hard to believe looking at the 'after' pictures that Andrea had a weight problem... but Andrea went on to lose a staggering 6 STONE after joining Scottish Slimmers!
Andrea from Edinburgh explains that for the majority of her childhood she was classed as ‘obese’ and when she was very young she faced bullying due to her weight issues that only led to continuous comfort eating which only made things worse.
I Felt So Isolated
‘By the time I was 14 I was at my heaviest, weighing in at nearly 16st 7lbs. I had little confidence around people my own age and felt very isolated,’ says Andrea.
It was after her father Andy was diagnosed with diabetes that Andrea had the sense to do something about her weight and her eating patterns.
‘I decided to change. I no longer wanted to be remembered as that ‘heavy girl’. My dad’s diagnosis was a wake up call and then things really hit home when I went on a holiday with some friends and I was refused the opportunity to go horse riding because I was so heavy.’
I Learned To Cook Properly
Having never dieted before – and loving food – it was not a decision Andrea took lightly.
‘I spoke to my doctor at the time about NHS services available for slimming but they were over-subscribed. However he told me his brother had lost weight with Scottish Slimmers,’ continues Andrea. ‘After deciding to join the change was almost immediate. I learned how to cook properly and the recipes helped me better understand portion size and how to control my eating.
Feeling Good And Confident
‘I am now 6 stone lighter, I feel so much more confident regarding my body and most importantly I feel so much healthier.’
Starting a 7-year-law degree to become a barrister would have been a struggle Andrea admits if she had still been 6 stone overweight.
‘I always felt isolated and insecure but undoubtedly my ‘feel good’ moment was starting university and being confident amongst my peers. I’ve never had much confidence but now it is coming back and I am loving life.
‘People ask me how I’ve done it, what’s my secret? I believe that taking small baby steps has been the key to my overall success.’