Vikki proves menopausal weight loss is possible
BMI before: 36.5
BMI at seven months: 27.8
Weight lost: 24.4 kilos or 3 stone 12lbs
Percentage weight loss: 24% of body weight
54-year-old single mum, Vikki from Melbourne was disillusioned with yo-yo diets and had given up hope of shedding her midlife excess weight.
That all changed when she joined Livewell after being referred to the service’s weight management programme by her doctor.
Seven months later, Vikki is delighted to have lost almost four stone, a quarter of her body weight, and she’s feeling fighting fit!
Committed to her goal, which she’s already exceeded, Vikki explains her story so far….
“Balancing a busy job with being a mum left little time for me, so I put my own health and needs on the backburner. I’d grab food on the go, was bound to my desk and rarely did any exercise. Months of working from home and increased time indoors didn’t help.
I live with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. This causes symptoms of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) such as weight gain, fatigue, and chronic anaemia which can leave me feeling dizzy and tired especially after physical exertion.
After an operation nine years ago, I experienced surgical menopause and was advised against using HRT. This impacted me both physically and mentally. I endured years of night sweats, hot flushes, brain fog, joint problems and the inevitable additional weight gain. I felt drained and exhausted and with the joint problems I simply couldn’t do much physical activity without pain or injury. I lost a lot of my confidence and was feeling low.
I was beginning to feel better when the pandemic hit. Two years of lockdowns and restrictions on getting out and about again led to me gaining more weight and I got very down again.
Whilst at a check-up last summer for a lingering cough, my doctor asked if I could step on the scales. I knew it would be bad news but didn’t realise my Body Mass Index was so high, putting my health at a higher risk. With a family history of cancer and heart disease, at my age and weight I was increasing my risk of developing both. As a sole parent I could not afford to become seriously ill. Clearing me of serious health conditions, the doctor explained that losing weight could significantly reduce my longer-term health risks and help me generally to feel healthier, more energetic and less depressed. She recommended Livewell to help me and I agreed to be referred.
With wavering confidence and scepticism, I cancelled my first two group sessions, but then convinced myself the time was right. Third time around I was ready.
The moment I joined the Allenton activation with other new starters, I felt at home. Many of us had similar stories and had struggled to keep weight off. Some have now become great friends and exercise partners who help keep me motivated. Livewell’s messaging made a lot of sense - eat the right things in the right quantities and do the right amount of exercise. The emphasis is on making life-long good habits rather than quick gains from fad diets with results that never last - something I’d been prone to do in the past.
I used to eat the same portions as my growing and active teenage daughter but by reducing my own portion sizes to the amounts recommended in the NHS Eatwell Guide, I found I really didn’t need to eat so much pasta, rice, bread and potatoes. It also highlighted that I was consuming far too much saturated fat, salt and sugar in takeaways and unhealthy snacks.
Getting my 5-a-day became another focus - swapping cheese sandwiches and crisps for a chicken or salmon salad at lunch and filling half my plate with veg at dinner. I stopped buying biscuits and instead snacked on fruit and nuts.
Meal planning and batch cooking means my daughter and I are enjoying freshly cooked, nutritional dinners. I’m also making more informed choices from takeaway menus, preparing my own ‘fakeaways’ and only eating half and freezing the rest.
Drinking more water has helped to curb snacking. I’ve found the old adage that ‘if you’re hungry you might actually be thirsty’ to be true. The extra fluids I’m drinking are also helping to keep my skin looking healthy and my joints lubricated.
Activity wise, I’m enjoying Livewell’s classes which are great for beginners but work around your pace so you can progress as your fitness improves. Wednesday’s Boxercise in Alvaston and Monday’s Move and Tone in Sunnyhill are firmly part of my week. Thanks to my growing confidence, I’ve taken up Karate with my daughter and recently passed my second belt grading at South Derbyshire Karate Academy! I help at a children’s performing arts academy at weekends and have found I can now keep up with the students in dance classes as I have so much more energy.
My advisor, Gemma has been very supportive giving me lots of advice and encouragement at the weekly drop-ins. She encouraged me to take part in the Christmas challenge to help me stay on track and I was so pleased to be one of the three winners. I have also gotten to know other Livewell team members through their classes; Andy, Julie, Joe, Yasmin and Lauran have all provided great coaching and support.
My weight has dropped consistently but steadily – roughly 0.8 kilos or 1-2lbs a week. My original goal for the year was to lose 18 kilos and lower my BMI to under 30. Having surpassed that just over halfway through the programme is fantastic.
It’s lovely to receive so many positive comments about my slimmer appearance and even how glowing my skin looks!
Getting older often means gaining weight, especially when you’re post-menopausal. If there’s one message I want to share, it’s don’t write yourself off, you can succeed. I’d convinced myself that at 54 I was too old and out of condition to change but I feel fitter, healthier and more toned than in my thirties. Amongst the many benefits, I sleep better, feel more balanced and most importantly, I’m happy!”
Livewell advisor, Gemma Brooks said:
“I remember Vikki from her first session with us. She usually sat on our middle table and was quiet at first but always smiling and nodding along to show she was engaged. I knew quickly she was going to achieve her goals, as she really did hit the ground running. Vikki started attending the Wednesday night Boxwell class every week and her activity just kept increasing! Every week without fail she would be at the drop in to catch up and weigh in. Her weight consistently came down 0.5-2kg a week, even managing a loss after a Christmas trip to New York! She is constantly impressing me and not just with her weight loss but with her attitude and motivation. The level of commitment she has had for improving her health is hard to miss and I can’t wait so see what she achieves in the next five months!”
Vikki's typical eating and exercise habits before and after her weight loss.
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Before |
After |
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Breakfast |
High calorie milky coffee with sugary syrups at coffee shop.
Big bowl of wheat biscuit or crunchy nut cornflakes with sugar. |
Americano coffee with a splash of skimmed milk and no sugar or syrup.
Small bowl of sugar free cereal or fruit and yoghurt. |
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Lunch |
Cheese savoury sandwich or pastie and crisps |
Salad with 5 colours of veg/fruit with chicken, salmon or low-fat cheese. |
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Dinner |
Takeaway twice a week
Pizza or ready meals
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Quorn chilli with rice/tortilla wraps
Chicken with kale, oven cooked wedges
Home cooked tuna pasta bake |
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Snacks |
Biscuits |
Fruit and nuts |
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Exercise |
Walking 2 x 40 mins Help at performing arts academy |
2 x Livewell classes 1 x Karate class (and practice at home) Help at performing arts academy Walking
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