Losing four stone changed my life (From Bournemouth Echo)

Losing four stone changed my life

8:00am Wednesday 10th February 2010 in

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FLORIST Natalie Joakim is beginning to blossom again after losing nearly four stone in weight.

The mother-of-three from Christchurch admits she often used to polish off the children’s left-overs and that the pounds gradually piled on over the years.

“I would avoid looking at myself in the mirror and shop windows were always a disaster.

“It was like I would see me, but I wouldn’t acknowledge that person was me.

“I was in complete denial that the fat person looking back was the tragic reality.”

Then her mother, her best friend, died of a sudden brain haemorrhage. “For me, this was the last thing I could handle at this point in my life.

“I felt like everything was spiralling out of control. I had hit one of my lowest points ever.

“I went with my dad to pay our last respects to my mum, which was very strange and the memory is still as clear today.

“I gave my mum a kiss – she was so cold.

“I promised her that I would sort myself out, not just for her but for me too. I knew it was time for a change.”

She finally plucked up courage to join her local Weight Watchers meeting and hasn’t looked back.

“Losing weight has helped in so many ways. I’m an asthmatic, and for the last year I have not used my inhaler.

“I have no cartilage in my right knee, but because I’m not carrying the weight, I can walk my dog twice a day, and also attend aqua fit twice a week.

“Today I am in a good place, I feel happy, healthy and confident. Life is for living, so I’m going to live it.”