So you all know my trials and tribulations with my weight (when will they ever stop?!) and I know many of you are facing your own battles. Many of you share those battles with me which is great as it's comforting to know I'm not alone. One of my friends from work, Gaynor, has been kind enough to let me share her story with you all so here it is:
Gaynor - the story so far
Gaynor's "before" pic |
"After having my son, having 4 operations since his birth where I have not been able to even lift a kettle, I finally admitted defeat.
I've tried to lose weight over the years but will totally admit that it was always half-hearted. Don't know what made me change my mind but I began to HATE what I saw when I looked in a mirror, I would either avoid them or go and cook a pizza cos of the image staring back at me. Probably the same image i'd been looking at for a long time but something made me look different. It also changed my personality as well, I no longer looked forward to going out, not only to pubs but even to peoples houses. The though of going to a big party like the O2 Awards had me in a blind panic as some of my friends well know.
My friend had had an acupuncture stitch a few weeks before, she told me that no food was off-limits and it seemed to be working so I thought I would try that. I rang Morningside Acupuncture Clinic in Hebden Bridge and got an appointment for a couple of weeks later. I was very apprehensive about it, was I wasting my money (£120 is not cheap but its 6 months Weightwatchers or Slimming World), would it hurt, would it actually work or was I just fooling myself again.
I was very surprised to find out that it didn't hurt at all, it was a very sharp shock but not painful. There are a few rules that you have to follow, Dr Landale explained them all very clearly:
1. you must rub the stitch for 30 seconds between five and 45 minutes before eating, the longer you leave it, the better
2. You need to reduce today's meal by the amount you left yesterday but you must always leave a little on the plate. Basically you eat until you feel comfortable, not stuffed but content that you have had enough
3. Take 3oz protein and one multi-vitamin with minerals each day
As I left, I was still a little apprehensive, could I follow all these rules, would I remember to rub the stitch before I ate and did I really have the willpower to actually leave food. No time to think, I couldn't start with the stitch until the next day so it was off home to pig out, eat what I wanted and to drink some cider for the last time!! (you can drink cider and lager but its advised not to as it won't work as well due to the sugar content)
I was surprised at how easy it actually was though, I weighed myself as soon as I got up the following day (Thursday) and rubbed my stitch whilst doing that. After I had had a shower and got dressed, it was 40 minutes before I was able to eat my breakfast and I was surprised at how little I could eat. This carried on with every meal. On an average day, I now have 3 small meals, porridge for breakfast, soup only for lunch and usually chicken with potatos for my evening meal. I'm not hungry enough to snack between meals. I used to take a punnet of strawberries to work every day but the tubs got smaller and smaller to the point that I have now stopped taking them.
I did start off by carrying around a little bottle of washing up liquid and occasionally squirt my food as soon as I had finished eating so that I couldn't pick!!
I now find it so so easy, i'm really surprised and really happy with the results. I weigh myself as soon as I get up on a Thursday morning (naked so there is no excuse that my clothes this week are heavier etc)
I'm pleasantly surprised with the results. So far I have lost 17lbs in 5 weeks. I still make homemade pizzas on a Saturday night (my bases have just got a lot smaller ha ha) I still go out for meals and I still have a glass of wine when I want one. My confidence seems to be a lot better and I actually feel better about myself.
I've still got a long way to go but hopefully I will carry on the way i'm going. I know that if I didn't go out for a meal, always ate healthy food only and didn't drink, I would lose weight a lot quicker but i'm only human and I now have a life again so i'm gonna live it!!"
I'm sure you're all with me when I wish Gaynor tons of luck and can't wait to check in again in a few months time. The acupuncture stitch is by far one of the more unusual methods of weight loss and I'm really pleased it's working for her. I may even save up for one myself!