Devon woman's eight stone weight loss
A 26-year-old engineer from Newton Abbot has lost eight stone after her doctor warned her she was 'a heart attack waiting to happen'.
Rachel Coppen, whose weight loss journey started in March 2014, has dropped from a dress size 28 to a size 12 from XXXL to a small.
Rachel said: “I had known for a long time that I needed to lose a serious amount of weight, but it never seemed to be a real priority for me. I was always playing the ‘Happy Fat Girl’ and making jokes about myself to try and deflect the looks and whispered comments.
“In February 2014, I had been engaged for a year when reality hit that I had three months until I got married and needed to go dress shopping, which I had been putting off for months. I booked an appointment at a local boutique, and went down with my mum that weekend.
“There were hundreds of gorgeous dresses in the shop. Not one of them would have fitted me. They had one hideous dress, in a size 28, that they managed to shoe-horn me into. It looked awful, and inside I was mortified. I left the shop, and went online looking for plus size dresses. I ended up buying a size 24 dress from Monsoon, which was pretty but a long way from what I really wanted. I made out that I was chuffed with it, and it was exactly what I wanted, but it really wasn’t. I have kept this dress as a reminder why I decided to lose weight.
“In a last ditch attempt prior to my wedding in May, I decided I had to do something. I went to the doctor about my weight and general health. I knew I had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome which was made worse by being overweight, but what I didn’t realise was that I was also morbidly obese, pre-diabetic, with massively high blood pressure.
“The doctor said I was a heart attack waiting to happen. That is terrifying being told that. I left the doctors with a variety of leaflets on healthy eating feeling a bit lost.
“I went online when I got home, and saw a group-on for three months of Weight Watchers. I saw this as a sign. I joined that same day, and went to my first meeting in March 2014, weighing in at 20st 5lbs. I lost 8lbs in my first week which was a great feeling and a great motivator.
“My husband is an international service engineer, and is out of the country for around 3 weeks out of a month, so I was literally smaller every time he came home! His face every time he came in the door made it worthwhile. He would never admit that my weight affected him, but I knew it did.
“We got married on Sunday 25th May. I had lost 2.5st one since joining in March and was feeling fab. We had an amazing honeymoon in Mexico, which was the icing on the cake. Sadly the good feelings went when we got home and I saw our wedding and honeymoon photos – they were horrendous.
“There was not one photograph out of hundreds that made me feel good about myself. This made me decide to keep going with weight watchers. I continued to attend my weekly meeting and starting helping with the meetings to make sure I kept going! I continued to lose weight at a steady pace, and after a few months people started to notice my weight loss, and I was getting some lovely comments, especially from my workmates.
“I work as an engineer in a company which is predominantly male, so for that lot to comment it must have been noticeable!!!! I ended up trading in four sets of uniform over the course of the next year. My biggest work trousers had a 48 inch waist (which was too tight!) and I was in XXXL men’s polo shirts. Today, I am wearing a 32 inch waist trousers and size S polo shirts….. and I’ve still got 20lbs to lose!!! I kept my biggest pair of trousers which I get out every now and then to spur me on.
“When the new ‘Your Way’ plans came out, I heard that a lower carb diet was meant to be good for those with PCOS, so I gave it a go. This really gave my weight loss a boost, which have me enough confidence to start exercising. This was a huge turning point as I started to really change shape. I had an hourglass figure hiding away underneath my bulk!!
“In April 2015 My wedding photographer saw my weight loss photos on facebook, and invited me to be a model at a local university. This was nerve-wracking, but they were the first photos in a very long time that I adored. They were 1950’s rockabilly themed (I love 1950s vintage!) and they gave me a massive confidence boost. My husband also loved the photos, and has had copied printed of them to put up. I loved that he loved the photos of me!
“I had my downs along the way, but as I was looking at my new way of eating as a lifestyle change and not a diet, I tried to not let it bother me. It was all part of the learning curve. My diet allowed me to still live a fun and sociable life without limiting myself just because of food!
“I must admit though, I was totally gobsmacked when I got back from a 2 week all-inclusive holiday in Egypt to find I had put 12lbs on!!!! I got straight back on plan though, and lost the holiday weight in 3 weeks. My Egypt holiday was the first time I have ever worn a bikini, and I felt fab in it. I even let my husband take a photo of me wearing it, which I didn’t hate!
“I started to really enjoy cooking and having been a notorious takeaway and junk food addict, cooking clean, fresh meals was a new thing for me (and my husband!!!). I now can’t imagine eating any other way! I loved the science behind food, and learning about nutrients and how different types of food have different effects on the body. This inspired me to sign up for a Nutrition course which I loved.
“I am now taking the Advanced Nutrition course, and side courses in Early years and sports nutrition. I loved how weight watchers, exercising and learning all about health was changing me, and I became a happier and more confident person. A few ladies from my meeting started saying I was an inspiration, and would make a good leader….. so I applied! I did well in my interview, and start my training on October 15th – I am SO excited!
“I have lost nearly eight stone so far, gone from a dress size 24/26 down to a 12 and have lost 18 inches from my waist. I am a completely different person to who I was, and can’t imagine ever feeling better than I do now. I have around 1.5st to get to goal, and I can’t wait for the day I get my gold members pack. My husband has promised me a wholRze new wardrobe when I get to goal too, what more motivation is there for a girl!! I hope by becoming a leader I can pass my love and enthusiasm for weight watchers onto others so they can feel as amazing as I do.”
Rachel says the new SmartPoints plan has totally changed how she views her weightloss.
“It’s so important to have a holistic approach towards health, and the three elements of eat, move and smile are great for this. Its not all about the number on the scale at the end of the day, its how you feel. Happier people make healthier choices! Although I lost most of my weight on the Pro Points plan, I am amazed at the boost that Smartpoints has given me. I'm finding that Smartpoints have nudged me towards healthier, more nutritious food choices. I have moved away from the low fat pre-packaged foods and I am now cooking from scratch a lot more.
“I love the varied, fresh & healthy higher protein meals I am preparing - I feel so much fuller, and for longer. Being aware of the effects of sugar and saturated fat on my health has also been great, 'Eat' has taught me not to be afraid of fat and it has definitely had a positive effect on my health and how I feel. My hair and skin have never looked better since adding healthy fats into my diet. I have also been making a conscious effort to increase my activity, some of the ideas in the move book are fab.
“Activity should be enjoyable, not a chore! The energy boost from the change in how I am eating has definitely helped me increase my activity. My favourite element of Smartpoints though, has to be smile. We rarely take any proper 'me' time, and it really does have a huge effect on how we feel - whether you realise it or not. Just sitting with a book for half an hour, or having a nice soak in the bath (with a box of the new Hazelnut moments on the side!) can really give you a lift. My goal weight is now in sight, and I can see Smartpoints helping me get there!
“I am now a different person completely. Losing weight has changed how I view most things in my life. My biggest step has been becoming a weight watchers leader myself, and running my own classes.”
