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| LighterLife Loughborough |
August 2014
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| Welcome to your Summer Newsletter |
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Hi everyone, 
Hope you are enjoying the unusually hot summer we are having this year and making the most of it.
Lots has been happening in the LighterLife world since I last sent out a newsletter so there is quite a bit to get through!
I have also carried out a little review of the successes of LighterLife, Loughborough since I opened seven years ago, namely:
- Nearly 3,000 stones of unwanted weight lost - equivalent to 230 average male adults!
- £7,500 raised for Rainbows Children's Hospital
- Over 35 stones of food items donated to a local charity who help the homeless and those leaving care.
See more about these below.
Plus, we have had a lot of success stories in the Press this year, both newspapers and magazines including a young man called Rob Gillett who lost 20 stones in 20 months and transformed his life. See his full story below along with our own very successful Fay and her story to inspire:
 | | First Day at LighterLife |
 | | 20 months later and 20 stones lighter! |
Also, details of three exciting new foodpack flavours and a group description overview so that you can see when groups run and who they are aimed at to enable you to pick the right one for you.
If you haven't been for a while, or have been put off joining because it will mean a trip to your GP for approval - the vast majority of clients can now self certify for both the Total Programme and the Lite Programme. Only those with conditions such as Type II Diabetes or on medications that need to be monitored still need to visit their GP. If you are unsure, then just give me a call on 01509 234433 or drop me a line at debbie.ford@lighterlifecounsellor.com and I'll be happy to advise.
So, if this long, hot summer has made you more aware than ever that you may be carrying a few too many pounds, or, you've come back from holiday and don't like what you see on the photographs of you, then come along to a free, no obligation initial appointment on a Wednesday at either 3.30pm or 6.00pm and find out how we can help you. Either ring 01509 234433 or email debbie.ford@lighterlifecounsellor.com or text 07860017700 to book a place. This does not commit you in anyway to joining, but you just might find it can be the start of an exciting new healthier life for you.
I look forward to meeting you soon.
Debbie Ford
LighterLife Award Winning Counsellor for Loughborough
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 | | Fay before the Total Programme |
 | | Fay over 6 stones lighter |
Meet Fay. When she joined the LighterLife Total Programme in July 2013 she was 17.5 stones and with a dangerously high BMI of 38. After only 26 weeks she had lost a fabulous 6 stones and achieved a healthy BMI of 25. Here is her story in her own words:
"I reached the point in June 2013 of complete desperation at my continual weight gain. I had struggled with joint pain in my knees and general day to day activities were becoming more difficult. I also felt I was missing out on doing fun things with my niece & nephews. I felt like the "fat Aunty" sat on the sidelines of any games in the garden and hated any photographs of myself being taken.
I knew of a colleague who had followed LighterLife many years ago. So I looked on the internet to research the company. I found that there was a Counsellor, Debbie Ford, in my home town so I submitted my details on line and set up a meeting with Debbie. After that initial meeting with Debbie I knew this was something different to the usual weight loss programmes. It would take some serious commitment if it was going to succeed. But I was determined & also inspired by the idea of the weekly counselling sessions. At the end of the day if it was going to be it was down to me, however all the support & learning was there if you were prepared to take it.
My weight loss was gradual but constant. During the course of total abstinence, (6.5 months) and then the Management Phase (8 weeks), I had a total of 12 weeks away on holiday, no excuses the food packs went with me. During the whole weight loss programme down to my ideal weight I never had a weight gain. That had certainly never happened before when trying other methods to lose weight.
The emphasis in the group sessions was to create a new healthier you and to change your thinking around food in the future. That's exactly what I feel I have done. I have always been quite a confident person but now feel confident in my appearance as well. Going from a size 22 to a size 12/14 is bound to boost your confidence!
Going forward its about maintaining the healthy lifestyle and making sensible choices around food. I have no intention of going back to the dark days when I was putting my life at risk. I love my life and have been lucky enough to have great support from all my family & friends from day one!. My husband Andrew has been amazing in his support. He encouraged and praised me every step of the way.
If you are determined to succeed, set yourself some goals, follow the Programme to the letter & listen to the advice given and you cannot fail. I would recommend LighterLife to anyone with a "can do" attitude. It's been the best thing I have ever done. Thank you LighterLife."
If you want a life changing experience like Fay's, then contact me to make a free, no obligation initial appointment to meet me and find out more about the Programmes we offer. Either ring 01509 234433, text 07860017700 or email debbie.ford@lighterlifecounsellor.com to book a place.
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NATIONAL STORY
ROB GILLET - AKA THE HUMAN DONUGHT
| | Rob at 41 stones 10lbs |
| | Now 12 stones 9 lbs. |
When Rob Gillett, from Bridgend, tipped the scales at 41 stone 10lbs, he knew that if he didn't lose weight soon, his life would be in grave danger. At just 25 years old, his BMI was a staggering 104 (the healthy range is between 20-25), and doctors were becoming increasingly concerned about his health. However two years on, Rob has turned his life around by losing more than 20 stone through the LighterLife programme. His weight is now an incredible 12 stone 9lbs.
His teenage years were marked by a sharp increase in weight due to abuse (he gained around two stone each year) and it was causing havoc with his health; he experienced his first TIA (transient ischaemic attack), also known as a mini-stroke, at just 17, and his sleep apnoea was so bad that life-saving machinery could not control it. Rob says: "I know people will be shocked by how much weight I put on, but it was the only way I knew how to deal with my emotional issues. I look back now, and can't believe that I put my life in so much danger. The sleep apnoea was terrifying and the reality is I could have died at any time."
At his heaviest Rob was almost housebound and he:
* Was unable to drive because his stomach got in the way
* Used to have to get a taxi to take him down the road, to get to the bus stop
* Had to have flight attendants provide him with a bucket on a plane as he couldn't use the toilet
* Couldn't use the bath or shower in his house, having to wash at his grandparents each week
* Lost nearly all his teeth from having weak gums
Rob says: "I knew I had to do something about my weight, and had seen people like Pauline Quirke lose weight on LighterLife and thought it could work for me. I had tried so many diets in the past that I was sceptical it could work, but it was like a light bulb came on for me when I went to my first session. For the first time I was on a weight loss programme that tackled the emotional issues of eating, and it allowed me to see why I was basically eating myself to death."
Rob comments: "Taking the decision to lose weight wasn't easy as I knew I had to tackle my demons, and still can't believe I have lost the same amount of weight as two grown men! I have a new lease of life now. I ran a 10k race, do Nordic walking and have a personal trainer.
"The best thing about losing weight is that I can hopefully inspire others and make them realise that it's possible to lose weight with the right support."
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LIGHTERLIFE GROUPS - WHICH ONE IS THE ONE FOR YOU?
At LighterLife here in Loughborough we offer a full range of groups to suit all clients, but, sometimes which one is right for you can be confusing. The groups will follow either the Total abstinence Programme and/or the low calorie Lite Programme. So, here is a description of each group and who it suits.
Each group gives you around an hour of group counselling every week as well as on-going support whenever you need it during the rest of the week. There are also pop in times available every day Monday to Thursday to aid flexibility if you cannot get to a group time for whatever reason, but, the key to success on LighterLife is to aim to attend the majority of sessions to learn more about your relationship with food - otherwise you will only be doing a diet!
LADIES TOTAL - Tuesday 7.00pm to 8.30pm
This group is for new female clients with a BMI of 28 or higher who have never been a client of LighterLife before.
Group re-opens for newcomers on 25th August 2014
LADIES REFRESHER - Monday 5.30pm to 7.00pm or Wednesday 7.00pm to 8.30pm
This group is for ladies who, for whatever reason, have left the Programme early before completing, or, have completed but have found a few pounds creep back on and want a more structured environment that the Management group to lose the weight. You can follow either the Total or Lite Programme in this group.
You can join any week.
LADIES MANAGEMENT AND LITE- Thursday 5.30pm to 7.00pm
This group is for ladies who are currently going through the Management Phase or who are doing the Lite low calorie Programme or are Life Members, i.e. those who have completed the entire Programme of weight loss and all the Management phases.
LADIES FOUR WEEK COMMITMENT GROUP - Monday 7.15pm to 8.45pm
This group is for Ladies who want to commit to a full four weeks on the Total Programme. The commitment is made by paying for the four Weekly Fees up front and then attending each of the four weekly sessions and purchasing a full 28 foodpacks each week. This group is available to any ex-clients and Life Members, but, not to any of have previously enrolled on a specific time period group such as this, or a Bootcamp, and failed to complete the number of weeks they committed to.
Next 4 week commitment due to commence 18th August.
MEN'S GROUP - Tuesday 5.30pm to 6.45pm
This is for all Men regardless of status. You can start any week, but, once you start the commitment is to purchase a Weekly Fee and 28 foodpacks every consecutive week with no missed weeks. The only exceptions to this are for Life Members who can purchase any amount of foodpacks and attend whenever they wish, and those undertaking the Management Phases where the number of foodpacks relates to the stage they are at.
You can join any week.
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LATEST FOODPACKS
 
Three new additions to the range have been added recently. Curry is a "meal" which means heating it in the microwave and eating with a spoon. Rhubarb & Custard can either be a shake, or, heat it in the microwave and it sets to become a dessert with a consistency like a creme caramel. Tomato and Herb is the latest soup.
This makes the range now:
SHAKES: Banana, Chocolate, Mint Chocolate, Rhubarb & Custard, Strawberry and Vanilla
SOUPS: Mushroom & Spring Onion, Tomato & Herb and Vegetable
MEALS: Curry, Porridge, Shepherds Pie and Spaghetti Bolognese
BARS: Cranberry & Raspberry, Peanut, Nut Fudge and Toffee
Plus Water Flavourings of: St Clements, Sunrise Orange, Fruits of the Forest and Pink Grapefruit
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RAINBOWS CHILDREN'S HOSPICE
Over the 7+ years of trading I am delighted that LighterLife Loughborough has been able to raise £7,500 to support Rainbows and the fantastic work they do. The money was raised in two main ways:
(1) Clients would bring in good quality clothes they had "shrunk" out of and other clients would buy them for a nominal pound each.
(2) On another occasion I and 11 clients produced a calendar showing their before pictures and then a photograph of them doing something that they couldn't do when they were heavier, such as riding a horse, surfing/body boarding, dancing the tango, etc.
 | | Paula 12.5 stones lighter with her favourite horse at the stables where she rides regularly. |
 | | Paula before when horse riding just wasn't an option. |
See below myself and a client handing over one of the cheques and then having a sneaky go on the swings!!
 
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OUR LOSS IS THEIR GAIN
In May last year, one of my clients had family members involved in the Youth Shelter charity and suggested that as an initiative, clients should buy a food item suitable for a homeless person equivalent to the weight they lost each week (i.e. 400g tin of beans = nearly 1lb of weight loss) and at the end of their weight loss period donate the food to Youth Shelter.
This has become so popular that to date we have donated nearly 35 stones in food stuffs to them.
The food is not only given out to homeless people, it is also used as part of their programme of helping youngsters leaving care learn how to look after themselves, such as learning how to cook.
It's a great charity and I'm delighted to be able to support them.
It's also a Win/Win initiative though, because as the client buys the items each week and keeps them in a separate bag in their house, they can feel how much weight they are losing just by picking up the bag. And that's been an eye opener for some!
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THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
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ABOUT US
LighterLife is much, much more than just a diet. It's a fantastic opportunity to learn about your relationship with food and why you choose to eat and drink more than your body needs. Couple this with techniques to keep the weight off and you not only lose weight quickly and simply during the Programme, but, you are also given the opportunity to keep it off!
I'd love the chance to tell you all about it, just drop us a line or give us a call and book onto a free, no obligation initial appointment today.
Best wishes Debbie Ford LighterLife Award Winning Counsellor
Mountfields House, off Squirrel Way, Epinal Way,
Loughborough, LE11 3GE Ring:- 01509 234433 Text:- 07860017700 Debbie.Ford@lighterlifecounsellor.com www.lighterlife.com/debbieford Twitter: @LighterLLboro Facebook: LighterLife Loughborough |
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