Losing weight is a gruelling task, but 22-year-old Mollie Fidell took the matter into her own hands and looks incredible.
Mollie, from Suffolk, started dieting on January 4, 2018, weighing 15-stone three pounds, and at the time of writing (July 24) she has lost an incredible three stone and eight pounds.
Her target weight is 11 stone three pounds, so she’s not far off.
Speaking to UNILAD, Mollie explained what sparked her weight loss journey:
I’ve known for the last couple of years that I had gained a lot of weight, I never used to be the size I got to, I was always quite slim and athletic to an extent.
It wasn’t until I moved out and got into a serious relationship that I started to gain the weight. I think it was just because I was happy and comfortable and didn’t see the harm in it.
I always said to myself that I wanted to lose weight and be a size 12 again, but once my partner proposed and I said yes – that’s when it hit me.
I couldn’t imagine being the size I was in a wedding dress.
I was unhappy with my size and decided I wanted to make a drastic change in not only my food intake, but my lifestyle as a whole.
Mollie weighed 15 stone 3 at her heaviest, and at 5’6″ that’s classed as obese, so she began putting in a lot of hard work.
The supermarket worker liked the idea of Slimming World, but researched all the tips online, doing it all by herself instead of going to classes.
Talking about how she lost the weight, Mollie explained:
I’d heard about Slimming World from friends and family and had always wanted to give it a go.
After looking into it in more detail, I discovered it could be quite pricey to join online or a group.
So I decided to do it all myself, I’ve never joined a proper group or had any outside help from Slimming World itself.
I found all the information on Google, Instagram and Pinterest. I bought a set of scales and set a target weight and a weigh day. I bought myself a food diary and planner from ‘princess planning’ on Instagram, created myself an account on Instagram specifically to track my weight loss and see other people’s journeys.
The weight loss communities on Instagram were really helpful for Mollie, saying that it’s a ‘massive family and everyone is willing to help others’ where people ‘post pictures which help keep you motivated’.
Mollie explained how she surprised herself:
I must admit I’ve never really struggled with the change, because slimming world allows you to eat near enough everything but in moderation and it has really worked for me. I can still have chocolate and sweets, just had to find lower calorie versions.
I still find that I can eat all the yummy foods I enjoyed before, just making sure it’s all balanced.
I also started going to the gym and I never thought I’d be the type of person who would enjoy going to the gym, but wow.
It really makes you feel amazing! I got set up with a programme specifically to aid my weight loss.
I try to attend spin classes as and when I can. I also use a weighted hula hoop at home to help tone my tummy.
Talking about how she feels having lost well over three stone, Mollie said:
The feeling of losing weight is just incredible though! I feel so amazing in myself and I feel like I can do anything!
I can go into any clothes shop and everything will fit me.
Whereas before I was struggling to even fit into size 20s. I feel I have more energy, I’m a happier person in general as well.
It wasn’t until I had lost the weight that I realised how unhappy I was when I was so big. It’s also when people in real life mention how far I’ve come and how much I’ve lost, it really does make you feel amazing.
Despite not going herself, Mollie said she ‘cannot recommend Slimming World enough’, saying it has genuinely changed her life.
Her and her fiancé plan on trying for a baby next year and she said she will continue her fitness plan then to make sure she doesn’t ‘slip off track’.
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