UNILADA girl has undergone an incredible transformation losing over seven stone after she was given a worrying diagnosis.
23-year-old Katie Webber from Basildon in Essex was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) a few years ago.
The condition which affects one in five women of childbearing age can have various symptoms including irregular or no periods, excessive hair growth, oily skin or acne and difficulty getting pregnant due to irregular ovulation or failure to ovulate.
UNILADBeing overweight can increase the amount of insulin your body produces.
With PCOS being related to high levels of insulin, by losing weight you can potentially make the symptoms better.
Weighing 18 stone five pounds in February 2017, Katie was overweight but wanting a family decided to make a change.
UNILADSpeaking exclusively to UNILAD, Katie explained:
My dream is to have a family with my partner and PCOS can affect fertility. Of course it doesn’t always but it was my kick start that led me to losing weight.
I am at a stage in my life where socialising with friends etc, was a weekly occurrence and I hated having to shop in plus size shops such at my age. I just wanted to be able to wear all the clothes my friends were wearing.
I walked through the doors of my local Slimming World group and now my current weight is 11 stone four pounds.
In just over a year, Katie has lost an astonishing seven stone one pound and is delighted she reached her target.
UNILADKatie admits she had to completely overhaul her lifestyle, which was tough at times.
Before her transformation Katie would barely eat fruit and vegetables, drive everywhere and not exercise regularly.
However now Katie goes to the gym at least three times a week and eats much healthier:
I prepare and cook everything from scratch whereas before it was ready meals and takeaways. I still enjoy my favourite meals, I just alter the way that they are cooked.
I can’t go a day without fruit and vegetables and I will walk to the shop instead of getting in the car.
The biggest change was learning how to cook. My meals are not always the most extravagant but I’m learning and I’m doing a damn size better than I ever have done! My mum still laughs now and can’t believe some of the things I’m cooking!
UNILADAlthough Katie does confess we can all be our worst critics and she doesn’t think she will ‘ever be entirely happy’, she remains positive concluding she is happier than she has ever been.
Katie added:
I bump into people now that I haven’t seen in a few years and they can’t believe it’s me! Ever since I’ve been young I’ve always been overweight.
I have encouraged my partner, my stepdad and lots of friends to start their own weight loss journey and it’s such an amazing feeling!
At first they didn’t think I would do as well as I have done but now they can’t believe it. They can’t believe how determined I have been throughout my journey but the are always reminding me how proud they are.
When UNILAD asked what advice Katie would give to others, she just said if you want to lose weight ‘do it’ as ‘if you wait for the right time there will never be one’.
She concluded ‘only you can give yourself the results you want, you are in control’.
Inspiring stuff!
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