Dont Always Assume You Are Healthy

I always felt healthy, and luckily, I haven’t suffered any major health implications, so when I attended my annual health check with my gp, I was surprised to find out that my blood sugar level was 43. This was a high reading, and put me in the pre diabetic category, so I was concerned at first, then realised that there was something I could do to stop it going any higher and reverse it. One area I could control was my weight. I was 14 stone and was referred by my gp to join the NHS/WW (formerly Weight Watchers), Healthier You scheme.

I was unsure how WW could help, but glad I gave it the opportunity, and now after just over a year, I have lost over a stone and a half in weight, and feel great for it.  

I’m in a very small category, in that I don’t own a smart phone, so I had to learn the plan, and do it all by paper, but it was easy to get into a routine with, and used my common sense with a lot of things. I also joined the virtual workshops, and found them to be helpful, and it’s always nice to speak to other people on the same journey. The WW coaches were always helpful, knowledgeable, and approachable.

I admit to having a sweet tooth, enjoying chocolate, cakes, puddings, fruit yogurts and snack chocolate biscuits, but was glad to find out that I didn’t need to give up on all these things, but just have everything in moderation, and go back to my saying before of being sensible. I started by cutting back on the sweets, and introduced fresh fruit, sugar free biscuits, 0% Yogurt, skimmed milk.

I was given an exercise bike for my 80th birthday in May 2020 following my knee replacement operation. I can now use this every morning when I get up, spending 20 minutes, covering 7 Km, burning off about 110 calories. This definitely helped my weight loss.

As I thought I was fit and healthy, I didn’t think there would be much change in how I felt, but little changes in life are that I can now touch my toes again.  My waist has dropped from a size 38 to a 36 and had to do some shopping for new trousers. My local charity shop was very happy to receive all my clothes that were now too big

I now walk into the village rather than cycle as I like the exercise, and the trip tales me about ½ an hour. I can continue to manage my large garden without help and know by keeping the weight off and looking after my health, will allow me to continue with this. Living on my own, after Lorraine my wife died in 2009, I manage the house and all the cooking etc, myself. This ensures I have complete control over my diet and lifestyle.

WW has taught me to eat plenty, but change the types of foods I was eating. Breakfast used to granola or shreddies, or stilton with days on toast.

I would always have a mid-morning cup of tea and chocolate biscuits or mini rolls. Lunch would be my main meal of the day and would normally be a microwave meal, chicken Kiev’s or sausages with potatoes and vegetables. A cup of tea would all follow with another chocolate biscuit. Dinner would be cheese on toast followed by tea and chocolate.

Now breakfast is cereal with fruit and yoghurt. Lunch will now include more vegetables and no follow up tea and chocolate, and dinner will be fruit and a sandwich.

I have enjoyed attending the weekly virtual workshops every Tuesday with the great coaching from Debbie Franks, who ensured we were all encouraged to contribute to the discussions. I am due to finish in November after 12 months, I will continue to apply the principals in way I select my meals, as do not want to regain my lost wait, I am having to delay my final blood sugar level test, due to the shortage of the specimen pots, I am pretty sure I am no longer pre diabetic.

Thank you, WW and the NHS, for looking after me and my health.

Andrew Cadbury

Starcross

Age – 81

Lives – Starcross Exeter

Start/Current Hbac1 – 43/38

Start/Current Weight – 14st/12st 3lb