Success Stories - Rachel Noel

Having decided to lose weight with Exante, I wanted to ensure I did everything I could to make sure I achieved my goals. I discovered the Minimins Weight Loss Support Forum, and the support and encouragement I have received from others there, has really helped me on my journey. I started out doing the  Total Solution, then I wanted to start learning how to handle food more sensibly, as well as being able to go out for meals with friends and family so I started mixing the Working Solution and Total Solution.

When I started this weight loss, I hadn't realised how much it would challenge my sense of identity. I had first put on a significant amount of weight when I was 12, and would probably have been considered obese since that age. As I started to shed the pounds and reach weight goals along the way, including getting into the overweight category, I had to rediscover who I was, and let go of 'fat' being part of that identity. I decided to set myself a fitness challenge to help keep me focused on my overall goal of becoming fit and healthy.

At Christmas I set myself the goal of taking part in the 45 mile Palace to Palace cycle ride in aid of the Princes Trust. When I set this goal I could barely cycle up the road and back without looking like a beetroot. Training for this challenge helped me to stay focused on the diet as well as the fitness, and by Easter I started cycling the 7.5 mile journey to work and back. In September I successfully completed the 45 mile cycle challenge (something I wouldn't have considered possible this time last year, before starting on Exante). I have been taking measurements and photos to help me realise how much I have achieved on this weight loss journey. Slowly my head is starting to catch up and realise that I am getting close to my ultimate goal of being a healthy weight (I’ve still got another 1.5 stone to go!).

I feel so proud of my achievements so far, and determined to get all the way to the end of this journey. I now really enjoy having my picture taken with my daughter, and feel confident that I will be able to set a good example for her as she grows up. I love being able to go into any shop and expect to be able to find clothes that fit, a novel experience! It has been a roller coaster of emotions along the way, but I am so glad to have discovered Exante, and been able to start realising my goals. There's loads more on my minimins diary.