KAREN PARKER felt like a fraud. It was her job to encourage patients to lead a healthier lifestyle, but the 35-year-old practice nurse from Stenhouse couldn't follow her own advice. And so, when a patient she was giving dietary advice to finally sna
pped and told 18st 9lbs Karen to "look in the mirror," she did just that.
"I didn't like what I saw," she recalls. "At 5ft 2 inches, I knew I was seriously unfit and unhealthy. Even running up a flight of stairs was enough to tire me out. It was still hurtful to be told that though.
"One of the GPs had sent the patient to see me for dietary advice as their cholesterol was high, and I was to give them advice on low-fat diets. In my role at work I felt more confident giving smoking cessation advice as I don't smoke, but I knew I wasn't a good role model for dietary advice."
The comment, albeit hurtful, was a wake-up call for Karen, who knew she had to change. So when she saw the GMTV advert to take part in the annual Inch Loss Island weight-loss challenge last November she thought she'd give it a go. Her letter and photographs grabbed the attention of the panel and she was interviewed, then asked to London to audition.
Karen as one of three UK people selected, heading off to Inch Loss Island 2008 on January 21.
"They took us to Burgh Island off the coast of Devon and it was like a boot camp. The trainer, Mark Anthony, had us out of bed at 5am to exercise on the beach.
"Nutritionist Amanda Hamilton put us on detoxes, and at mealtimes we were eating whole foods with lots of vegetables and fruits. It was all healthy eating and I loved it. I was never hungry, I didn't actually miss my old foods and in five days I lost 10lbs."
She continues: "Before, I never made healthy choices – I just ate whatever I fancied. I never exercised at all and I always had a poor diet."
However, once her five days in the spotlight were over, Karen realised the real hard work was just beginning and continued weight loss wasn't as easy as she expected.
"When you're in front of the cameras it's nerve-wracking and you do work hard to impress. So it was tough re-adjusting and being normal again. I always used to go out for meals – perhaps four times a week, and I still did this. It was tough to work out what was healthy and make good food choices.
"When I was away I was exercising three times a day everyday. In the real world I have a job, I'm studying and I have responsibilities – like we all do. I go to the gym five times a week for an hour a time, and it take discipline."
GMTV's life coach, Pete Cohen, contacted Lloyd's gym in Edinburgh and suggested Karen join up to keep her motivation high and hire the services of a personal trainer. She was put in touch with fitness instructor Chris Begg, who understood her plight as he used to be 21 stone himself.
"I could empathise," admits 24-year-old Chris. "Four years ago I was very heavy after gaining weight gradually in my teens. I was only 5ft 10, so you could really notice it. The portion sizes I ate were too big and I consumed too many carbohydrates.
"But I didn't realise how unhappy I was until I was in Australia on holiday on the beach when I was 19.
"I was sitting sweating buckets in a T-shirt and I looked around and saw how toned and healthy everyone else was."
Chris went on a mission to change his health and shape, and his mission turned to a career. He continues: "A lot of people see losing a lot of weight as being too difficult, and they do shy away from it. But it is possible. It takes commitment, but it can be done."
Karen couldn't be happier. She says: "He understands what I am going through, and he understands how hard it is.
" I know that it will happen, but it takes dedication and motivation to keep going."
So how did petite Karen become a size 22? "I've probably always been overweight. Looking back at pictures as a child, I was always chubby and as a teenager I was never thin. Snacking and eating out was my downfall. I would go to Pizza Express and have a big pizza then a chocolaty dessert. I didn't make healthy choices, just whatever I fancied. I would also maybe have a bottle of wine while on the sofa watching a DVD – it all adds up.
"I was lucky in that it didn't really affect my confidence. My partner always thought I was attractive and sexy, but if we went out for the night I'd look around and notice that there was no-one as fat as me."
Since January, Karen has lost a total of 22 inches from her body and has slimmed down to a size 20. Gone is the round of white toast with butter and jam for breakfast, pre-packed sandwiches for lunch and generous, rich dinners. Now, it's rye toast with honey, fruit salads, lean protein and copious amounts of vegetables.
"I feel so much healthier," smiles Karen, "and I can't wait to make it to my goal of going into Princes Street shopping and being able to buy a size 14. I'll get there one day."
And that patient? "Well, it just goes to show, you can make lifestyle and health changes for the better. Now I'm the role model I should have been."
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For a personal training session with Chris, telephone David Lloyd Leisure, Glasgow Road, 0131-316 2301, www.davidlloyd.co.uk.
CHRIS'S KEY TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP TRIMWEIGHT training is very important during weight loss. You need to firm up as you go along, and weight training is just as good to burn calories.
With Karen, we do split training, a combination of cardio and weights on different muscle groups and spinning classes. We exercise together between three and five times a week, and this is the optimal amount.
Will she make that size 14 goal? She'll definitely get it, and I think she's on target to reach it for May. She should have been losing a lot more than the 3-5lbs a week she has been. It should have been more like 6-7lbs. I had a look at her diet, and we've adjusted as it was more geared towards a detox.
Karen now goes to Slimming World, and I've got her to keep a food diary. I go over this with her so we're making sure she's making the right food choices. Eating right is just as important as exercise. It is a re-education process, but the results are worth it.
