Yasemin felt listless and unhealthy until her mum suggested she give WW a go. Within a year, she’d lost over 3st and felt fitter and more motivated than ever. Here, she shares the five life lessons she learned on plan
1 Don’t be afraid to try new things
‘Before I joined WW, I virtually lived in restaurants and fast-food outlets. The thought of cooking was completely alien to me – seriously, I couldn’t even boil pasta! Heating the odd pizza or ready meal was about all I could manage and most of what I ate was fat-laden and calorific. My mum suggested I sign up to WW after she’d successfully lost weight on the plan. She was right – it completely changed my mindset towards food. I realised it was time to get organised and try preparing meals for myself. I told myself that I didn’t need to be a gourmet chef, but I did need to master some kitchen basics.
What felt like necessity soon turned into a real passion, as I gradually learned to be more creative with my cooking. When I went out on a food shop, I liked to pick up ingredients that I’d never cooked with before, just to add some variety to my diet. Food needn’t be boring and that’s the beauty of WW – nothing is off the menu. Now, I love trying new things. I started off as a vegetarian but now vegan cooking is an integral part of my daily routine. By taking that first step, I managed to overhaul my lifestyle all within the space of a year.’
2 Never lose sight of your goal
‘The first week of WW was tough because it was a fundamental change to how I’d been living my life. I was used to eating what I wanted, but my weight had gradually crept up. I’d put on 3st in five years, often eating way beyond hunger to the point of feeling unwell. I had to learn to trust my instincts and stop eating when I felt full.
Similarly, before I joined WW, physical activity was never important to me either, but I was keen to boost my energy levels. I started working out with a personal trainer twice a week – we’re currently focusing on my strength and endurance. I also exercise by myself twice a week and try to hit 10,000 steps a day as a personal challenge. Throughout my WW journey, I’ve made sure that I’ve stuck to my guns and haven’t allowed anyone to distract me. It was important to commit fully to my goal to feel healthier, fitter and more content.’
3 Be kind to
