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How I lost weight – part 6

Susan Annandale before and after.
Susan Annandale before and after.
These women are all ordinary South Africans who made minor changes to their lifestyles and diets, and not only lost weight but transformed their lives.

They all had one thing in common – they believed that they could do it, and so can you!

Susan Annandale's story

Susan Annandale lost 9kg in 2 months. This is her story:

As far back as I can remember, I have always been a "big girl", and by the age of 18 I was uncomfortably wearing a 38 dress.

Read: How I lost weight – part 1

I got married in May 2014, and looking at my wedding photos, I realised they would always be a reminder that I could have been healthier on that day. I knew I needed to make a change for the better, so that I could be a happier, healthier wife and mother.

However, for me it wasn’t only about weight-loss. For at least five years I took painkillers and anti-inflammatories every single day. My lower vertebrae are crumbling and I have a persistent shoulder injury.

There have been nights when my husband had to turn me in bed because my backache was so paralyzing. There were mornings when my teenage daughters had to help me put  on my underwear because I could not bend.

Yet after only two months of "clean eating", Paleo-style, I am happy to say that I'm completely off painkillers and anti-inflammatories. Clearly the dairy or grains do not agree with me. I cannot describe what a relief it is not to have constant pain.

Read: How I lost weight – part 2

I am loving my new active lifestyle! I still have weight to lose; I'm not sure how much, but I will decide . . . I also need to increase my water intake, improve my "Parkrun" times and do a complete routine in dance class.

The most difficult part for me was accepting how far I had let my health slide, putting the past behind me and setting out a plan to change my lifestyle. There are also factors like self-motivation to carry on with healthy eating and exercising.

Also, I really had to step out of my comfort zone when I attended my first pole dancing class at the tender age of 41 – when everyone else in the class was in their early twenties. It’s all part of the challenge.

Read: How I lost weight – part 3

My advice for others is to do it for yourself – for your happiness for your sanity. No miracle drug or starving regime is going to give you long term results. Eat healthily, get active and have fun! It's a lifestyle and not a race, so find out what works for you – and do it.

If you have a bad day, don't throw in the towel, just carry on. It’s a journey . . . enjoy it!

For more of our weight-loss series read Alexa Kirkoff's story in How I lost weight – part 5.

Previous weight-loss successes:

I lost 76 kg on the Adventure Bootcamp programme
I lost over 100kg on the Weigh-Less programmeLose weight the Darren Scott way
Get fit by dancing, Riaan says


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