Weight loss has given me new life

IT was the moment Jo Ostlere knew things would have to change.

On holiday in France, she was enjoying a lakeside stroll with her family when her son Liam spotted people out canoeing.

The excited teenager started pestering Jo, 42, and dad Roddy, 44, for the family to take to the water.

But for the 20-stone bank manager there was no way.

"Liam was disappointed we couldn't do what other parents would have done," recalls Jo, "But I was so hot and sweaty and just the thought of getting into a canoe – I wouldn't have fitted."

Jo has battled with her weight all her life and her high-pressure job as an Abbey branch manager didn't help.

She'd skip lunch to make sure her staff got time for theirs, then snack on chocolate and tuck into takeaways in the evenings because she was too tired to prepare meals.

Shopping was a nightmare, she couldn't find anything to wear and as the years went by the pounds piled on and Jo became increasingly fed up.

"At 20 stone I was depressed but I was in denial for a long time.

"You kid on it's not an issue till you have to go and buy clothes – then you realise there's only one or two shops that sell a size 28-30."

Once on a flight she couldn't fasten the seatbelt and suffered the embarrassment of the air hostess pacing the aisle calling out "Who needs the extender belt?"

"I was mortified. Roddy was trying to reassure me but I was trying to sink under the seat."

Another time at a work go-karting event she stood on the sidelines because she was terrified of getting wedged in a tiny kart.

"I felt I was missing out because of my weight. I'd make excuses and think twice before doing any activity," admits Jo. "I'd get hot, sweat a lot and get very red-faced. It was very uncomfortable."

But on that family holiday in summer 2006, Jo realised her weight was affecting what she could do with her son – and it was time to do something about it.

"It gave me the push I needed," says Jo.

As soon as they got home, Jo joined LighterLife, a weight loss programme for people with three or more stone to lose.

Having just a shake for breakfast, a bar at lunchtime and soup in the evening, Jo lost six stone in the seven months to May 2007.

"The best thing for me was the counselling. I learned I'm an emotional eater. Sales targets at work were extremely hard. If you weren't achieving you were made to feel it."

Jo says the plan was easy to follow and drinking the recommended four litres of water a day helped curb hunger pangs.

"When you are obese you want something that works quickly. In LighterLife you lose three stone in 100 days," she says. "You are not hungry because all the carbs are out of your system and you burn fat. I did lapse a few times in stressful family situations but you learn how to deal with your emotional triggers."

Though the meal replacements cost £66 a week, Jo thinks she saved money compared to the cost of her old weekly food shop and frequent takeaways.

After 12 weeks, Jo was able to reintroduce normal food and now follows a low Glycaemic Index (GI) diet, which includes lots of fruit and vegetables.

She was so successful that she began helping out at LighterLife sessions and is now self-employed, running nine weekly classes in west Edinburgh.

Roddy, whose own weight was over 21 stone, was also inspired to join. He has lost three stone so far and helps Jo run her business.

One of the first things Jo did on reaching her target weight was go to Primark, where to her delight she found plenty of clothes to fit.

"I think everyone else in the shop could hear me shouting," she laughs. "I was chuffed to bits just to have choice."

As for 14-year-old Liam, he thinks his mum's weight loss is fantastic and is enjoying all the activities they now do together.

The Ostleres went to Gran Canaria last year and, whereas once they'd just have lain on the beach, this time they learnt to scuba dive as a family.

It's hard to believe that only two years ago Jo would never have contemplated getting into unforgiving diving gear.

"There's no way I'd have dreamt of putting on a wet suit when I was at my heaviest. I would have looked like a beached whale. Now we're going on a diving holiday to the Red Sea in September.

"It will be a lifelong journey, but losing weight and being physically fit has made a massive difference to my life."

But there is still one pledge Jo wants to keep. "We will maybe do canoeing over the summer," she says, flashing a broad grin. "It's definitely a future goal."

NATION'S HEALTH TIMEBOMB

AROUND 70 per cent of people in the UK consider themselves to be overweight, according to a new survey.

Despite the Government's "Five A Day" drive and healthy eating pushes from top chefs, people are still putting their health in jeopardy by not eating the right food.

To make matters worse, almost two-thirds of people are not exercising more than three times a week.

Health and wellbeing website www.netdoctor.co.uk polled 12,000 people and found 58 per cent don't eat a healthy diet and 74 per cent don't eat five portions of fruit and vegetables each day.

Dr Roger Henderson of Netdoctor said: "There is an obesity epidemic in the UK and it shows no signs of diminishing. People must take responsibility for their own wellbeing. Otherwise it's inevitable that health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer will become more rife."

• www.lighterlife.com