New year, new diet? "Together we lost more than 18 stone!"

Are you working hard to achieve your ‘new year, new you’ goals?

With many people starting diets and making changes to their lifestyles in 2023, how hard is it to stay motivated and inspired to reach your targets?

Three readers, who together lost more than 18 stone, have shared their top tips about their weight loss journeys so that more people can achieve their goals.

Victoria Hayden wanted to make a lifestyle change when she decided to lose weight nearly two years ago midway through the Covid-19 pandemic.

At her heaviest, she was 20 stone 4lb, and she managed to shed a massive 7-and-a-half stone in just 12 months.

She feels better physically, emotionally and mentally since losing the weight after suffering the heart-breaking loss of her eldest daughter Angel.

At her heaviest, Victoria was 20 stone 4lb

Victoria said: “I spiralled into a black hole and it affected everything about me and my life.

“I knew I needed to do something but just didn’t know what.

“After starting the Herbalife programme, I got into a routine – after 90 days of doing something it becomes a habit and is then easier to follow.

“Accountability is crucial.

“Now, I do Zumba and swimming and have even started a local walking group that has more than 300 members.

“We meet twice a week – in all weathers – and go for a walk around Winsford.”

Victoria lost seven-and-a-half stone in 12 months

Miles Blackman has been on his weight loss journey for around ten months and just before Christmas he achieved his goal of shedding 38 pounds.

Miles joined Beeweighed in Rudheath and followed one of their plans – a calorie-controlled diet where you only eat during an eight-hour window.

The other 16 hours in the day are spent fasting but you are allowed to drink water.

Miles said: “I was shown several weight plans that were tailored to my gender, how active I am, my weight loss goals etc and having had a little success with a calorie controlled diet in the past, I decided to try this one.

“I had to keep a record of what I ate and drank each day and attended the weekly meetings where I was offered help, advice and support with my plan.

“After just eight months, I achieved my goal and lost 38 pounds and I was given the slimmer of the year award for Rudheath.

“My aim now is to lose a little more weight and try and remain under my goal weight.”

Gemma Williams is a busy mum who desperately wanted to lose weight two years ago.

She managed to lose a massive eight stone in eight months between March 2021 and December 2021.

At her worst, she was 18 stone and simply wanted to drop a few dress sizes so she could shop on the high street and didn’t need to order clothes from specialist websites.

Gemma, who lives in Winsford, decided to follow protein replacement diet Herbalife where you swap out breakfast and lunch with a nutritious shake.

The key, according to Gemma, is to eat every three hours so that your body doesn’t get hungry and you don’t crave food.

Start the day with a replacement drink, have a snack mid morning after three hours, have a similar meal replacement for lunch followed by a mid afternoon snack and then a nutritionally balanced evening meal.

At 18 stone, Gemma Williams wanted to drop a few dress sizes

Gemma said: “Following this diet, kept me full throughout the day and I was given so much support every day that I felt inspired to lose weight.

“I weighed myself every day and set mini goals – achievable ones of half a stone rather than looking at how much I wanted to lose in total.

“I bought clothes that were too small but I wanted to be able to wear, which was a great incentive, and I often saw the results in the mirror rather than on the scales.

“You can see a difference in how you look in the mirror or in photos that sometimes isn’t reflected in your weight on the scales.”

She added: “It’s all about accountability.

“If you know that someone is supporting you and following your progress, then you feel motivated to keep going.”

Setting mini, achievable goals helped Gemma lose weight