I was the straw that broke the camel’s back

Name: Amy Wiseman
Age: 36
Weight Lost: Lost an amazing 3 st in 11 months

Amy is a nursery nurse and Mother of 2. Her story is a little different as she lost the weight after quite a bizarre incident on holiday. We caught her at work to have a natter.

Amy, a whole 3 stone, that is amazing. We’ll cut to the chase, tell us how and why you did it.

Well although my story is ultimately a happy one, my determination to lose weight was in fact born out of an extremely embarrassing incident that occurred on holiday in Turkey. My husband and I had taken the kids to an animal fare. They had been nagging us all week, ever since they saw the flyer in the reception of the hotel. Anyway, off we went to a small village just outside the resort of Icmeler. There were hundreds of animals there, from dogs to pigs and even horses. However, although they appeared quite scary to me, the kids had been determined to have a ride on the camels. I took them over there while my husband, capable of sniffing out a pint anywhere, managed to find himself a beer tent.

The kids had a great time and I sat reading my book until: “would you like to try madam”. I looked up and saw an elderly Turkish gentleman looking at me. “Do it Mummy! Do it do it... do it...” the kids began to chant like the little cherubs they are. “No No, I’ll just watch” I said sheepishly. He wasn’t having any of it though and he took my hand. People were looking so I decided to do it.

I was a big girl at the time and weighed around 13 stone. Clambering up the woolly, smelly creature proved difficult from the off. However, the worst of it came as I got my leg over its back. I lost my balance and fell with my full weight down onto the camel and it let out what I can only describe as a low screech. It wasn’t happy and the previously friendly old gentleman began yelling at me in Turkish, gesturing for me to get down. Needless to say everybody began to look at me as I clambered off like a clumsy seal before falling onto my backside on the way down.

It turned out the camel was a youngster and although it was the man’s fault for asking me to go get on to a baby, my weight had been too much for it. It was fine in the end and we saw some children riding it later on in the day but I was well and truly embarrassed. It was a wakeup call. I had let myself go and it was time to do something about it.

So you could say you were the straw that broke the camel’s back?

(laughs) Yes you probably could. I very nearly did. I mean yes it was a baby, but it was still huge. It was certainly a rude awakening so to speak.

So how did you go about losing the weight?

The very same week we arrived back in England, I went to see a friend who is in fact a nutritionist. He told me that I would need to lose around 4 stone and we set a target of around 9 months. I began to watch my calorie intake and changed my dietary habits. This is where my story becomes quite mundane because I can’t claim to have used any cutting edge weight loss techniques. I simply brought low fat foods whenever I went shopping, made sure I only had small, regular meals as opposed to junk food, and I walked to work.

I also encouraged the kids to become a bit more active and we cycled to school together twice a week. All of these things helped me to lose 3st in around 11 months so I was a little off target and still have a bit more to go but I feel so much better.

You look great though... would you say exercise is what did it for you then?

Yes, plus a balanced diet and a little help from one of your products. I had previously been a very lazy cook and although I made sure the kids ate good meals, I made myself snacks and junk food throughout the day to save time. I started taking Hoodia Diet Extra to help with my snaking, and with the basic changes to my lifestyle I was able to control my weight again. I haven’t felt as sexy as I do now, for years. My husband certainly appreciates it. I still have a bit to go and I’d like to lose another half a stone. That would bring me down to 10.

Well good luck Amy and we wish you the best of luck!