Food allergies the secret ingredient to weight loss

JOANNE Hyatt couldn't be happier. She's brimming with confidence, her energy levels are at an all-time high, and for the first time ever she can buy clothes that fit properly.

Originally weighing in at 14 stone 4½lbs, losing three stone 5½lbs has clearly been the making of her – and she hasn't even reached her target weight yet.

"It seems like I've been on a diet forever," she laughs: "I've always been overweight, even when I was at school.

"It really affected my self esteem, I lacked confidence because I was big. When I was a size 20 I couldn't go and buy anything. Years ago you couldn't get clothes in those sizes so you had to diet to fit."

After trying a number of diets with varying levels of success, Joanne, a 39-year-old hairdresser from Birches Head, joined WeightWatchers several years ago.

The mother of one admits that she didn't take it seriously at first, believing it wouldn't work given past experiences of seeing her weight go up and down.

But, following a trip to the doctors, things finally started going her way.

"I've really started losing weight since January when I had some allergy testing done – and found out there are 32 types of food I can't eat.

"Now, since I started monitoring what I'm eating, I've been fine," says Joanne, who believes her unknown allergies almost certainly had an effect on her weight.

"I've been losing weight consistently now, so I do think these allergies had some effect on my weight, because when you get a reaction you swell and retain water."

Since joining WeightWatchers Joanne has gone from a breakfast of porridge, sugar and milk with a round of toast with butter, to a grapefruit or dry rice crispies.

Lunch is now a jacket potato with tuna and salad instead of cheese sandwiches and crisps, and her evening meal consists of a chicken fillet, boiled potatoes and vegetables as opposed to lasagne, jacket potato and vegetables.

"At WeightWatchers you're given a diet sheet so you can work with the points and you know how many points you have per day," explains Joanne. She also says that as a result of WeightWatchers she's also changed the size of the plates she uses at both home and work to keep her portion sizes under control.

The utter commitment Joanne has towards changing her lifestyle is obvious, despite the fact that her allergies make it doubly difficult for her to keep to her healthy eating plan.

"I do have to change a lot of recipes to suit what I can eat," she says.

She even makes sure there's no cheating by weighing her food so she knows exactly how many points she is eating.

"People say I must be mad weighing it all, but it is best to know," she laughs.

Although she is no stranger to the gym, Joanne says losing the pounds means she now finds her yoga and aqua aerobics classes much easier, and is even going along to other gym classes whenever she can fit them in.

"I've got more energy to go to the gym and I put more effort in there because I know I'll lose more weight that week."

Joanne is clearly embracing every aspect of her new life. She hopes to reach her target just in time for Christmas, but is adamant that won't mean the end of her commitment to WeightWatchers.

"Even when I get to my target weight I will still go to the classes, as if I stop going the weight will just creep back on, plus it's a good social evening as well."

She adds: "I have more confidence and more energy now than ever before.

"I feel better and my clothes look better and as a result I feel far more positive in myself."

Joanne attends the WeightWatchers classes held by Susan Farrell. For more information call 07951 426286.