After struggling with her weight that peaked at 25 stone, one woman has decided to set herself the challenge of a lifetime to lose half her body weight.
Lisa Mulock said after losing some family to weight- related diseases and seeing friends struggling to move about because of their size, she decided to take action.
She has tried numerous diets over the years which she said only resulted in her weight rapidly going up and down rather than solving the problem.
The 40-year-old has now embarked on a strict fitness regime and nutrition plan and is aiming to raise £3,000 for Saint Francis Hospice where she works as a nurse.
“My weight has hugely affected my self-confidence,” Lisa said. “I always thought that I couldn’t do things because I’m big.
“People think that I just sit and eat all the time, but just because someone’s big, it does not mean that they’re always eating.”
The mother-of-one who lives in Hatherleigh Way, Harold Hill, said that it was not eating regularly which led to her weight gain and dieting was in many ways making the problem worse.
Embarrassed
“It’s a bit soul-destroying having your weight just going up and down all the time and I admit I was not doing myself any favours. I know people who are large and are struggling to get about and I didn’t want that.”
Lisa hit her heaviest when she was training to be a nurse five years ago and felt embarrassed that they did not have uniform trousers large enough to fit her. She said: “It was something that was always there and I always struggled with. I have never been happy being big.
“I was tired all the time, had swollen ankles and you’re not as flexible. I was continually aware of my weight.” While having dinner with her family just before Christmas she said she snapped and decided to do something about it.
After talking it over with her husband Steve, she decided to do a sponsored slimathon for the hospice in Havering-atte-Bower as well as signing up for a half marathon in October.
She then called gym Everyone Active, in Gooshays Drive, Harold Hill, and when they heard of her ambitions said they would give her free membership and help her achieve her goal.
Lisa said: “It was nerve-wracking going into the exercise class as I was the biggest one there, but the instructor brought me to the front of the class and introduced me to everyone.
“It’s never going to be as painful or difficult as that first class.”
She says she hit a low point last week when she could not face the thought of getting out of bed to go to the gym.
“My husband made me get up and came to the exercise class with me,” she said.
“That just shows how much support he gives me. He’s amazing and never judges me or anything and just tells me to do what I want as long as I’m happy and healthy.”
Lisa has already raised more than £200 for the hospice and says she is optimistic about reaching her target.
“If I think about it, it scares me as it’s a very big task. Hopefully, it will continue. I want to lose all the weight I possibly can in the next 10 months. I want to raise some money for other people and change my life in the process.”
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