In my life I have constantly been referred to as the curvy girl. When you stand out in a photo for all the wrong reasons, the word curvy doesn’t sound all that complimentary after a while. In 2013 as I was finishing university for the year and I had a long summer holiday ahead, I decided in those three months with determination and hard work I could make a change.

I started a LifeShape 9 program at the Milton Clinic in November. I quickly realised it was the best thing I could have done. It was harder in some ways than I expected, but the support provided by the dietitians and client services team allowed me to achieve every goal I set for myself. They all enjoyed my successes and when I had a disappointing week a member of the team was always there with words of encouragement.

Still attending university meant that my social life could have been an overwhelming challenge in my weight loss journey. Every week I met with my dietitian we discussed any upcoming events and tailored my meal plan so that I could go to dinner or drinks. In the end, I still went out with friends, I still had a great time, and still hit my goals.

I never felt limited by the program in fact the opposite happened. The program empowered me to be the person I had always felt that I was and take control of my life. One thing that people have commented to me is that I’m lighter but they are never talking about my weight though that has obviously changed.

Now my life is full of a lot of firsts! The first time I wore short shorts, wore a pencil skirt, went to the beach and didn’t cover myself, didn’t relentlessly criticise photos of myself following a night out, and went to a gym class by myself and led the class in a run. These are all moments people can take for granted but for me they are a simple reward for how much hard work I put into the program.

It is hard to express how much my life has changed, but every day there is a small reminder of how far I’ve come and how much I’ve changed as a person. I’m more content in every aspect of my life and Wesley LifeShape Clinic has given me a happier outlook on my life.

*Your results may vary. To find out what you can achieve on your LifeShape Program book a no obligation initial assessment with one of our Dietitians, call 1800 567 348. Alternatively you can register your interest online.

Words by Allie (October 2014)