Christine was a healthy weight as a child, but started to gain weight in early adulthood. She had her first baby, born prematurely, in her late 20s. Four years later, when pregnant with her second son, Christine was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and had to inject insulin. After the delivery, Christine was told that she would be diabetic for life, although it was later questioned whether she had been correctly diagnosed. In her third pregnancy, Christine was told again she would be diabetic, but was determined to manage this through diet, I was so obsessive about sugar and carbs didn’t eat anything… I didn’t put an ounce of weight on in pregnanc. Christine gave birth to a healthy child, although she has since been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which is well controlle. However, Christine’s weight has fluctuated over the years. She currently hopes to lose 3 stone to improve my self-confidence and to feel better in mysel.

Christine attributes her weight changes to several factors, including an underactive thyroid, menopause, and her mental health. Christine lives with several anxiety disorders, and has taken antidepressants for around 25 years. Whilst she can maintain weight loss easier when she isn’t on antidepressants, there comes a point where she can’t functio without them. However, antidepressants encourage certain eating habits, you;re calmer, you;re happier, so you;re just shoveling everything i. Christine describes the impact of depression on weight as a vicious circl, if you;re depressed you lose weight, I lose weight because I’m not on any antidepressants. As soon as you go on them, you;re a lot happier mentally but then you pile the weight on, so you can’t wi. Christine plans to reduce her dose of antidepressants in the hope this will aid her weight loss.

Christine generally has a good diet. She buys local produce and plenty of fresh food. However, Christine finds that in the evenings she has no will powe, I’m fine all day but come late at night, I go to the fridge, I want cheese. I;ll eat ice cream at eleven o;clock at nigh. To manage her weight, Christine plans to join a weight management group. In the past, she has found that the first three days of dieting is the hardest, it’s like almost coming off, food is like almost coming off a dru. Nonetheless, she has the support of friends who also go there, and likes their policy of eating normal foo without having to weigh portions. However, Christine has started researching the ingredients in foods, and is concerned by diets which advocate using sugar replacements such as aspartame, I have real issues with aspartame because it’s a carcinogenic and I think it’s all right saying, You;re all on Slimming World, you;re all dieting because you;re overweight But if you;re pumping your body’s full of chemicals, like aspartame, I’d rather have the sugar, you know, on the occasions when I drink that which is not every da.

Christine has not received advice on managing her weight from healthcare professionals, but is confident her doctor would raise any serious health concerns she had. Generally, Christine feels that doctors haven’t got the time or the resource to deal with weight issues. She suggests that there should be a specialist with knowledge on a range of weight management strategies who could signpost individuals to services that suits their needs. Christine would also like advice from healthcare professionals on whether it is safe to take herbal weight loss products, as she wonders if they could kick star her diet. However, Christine feels weight loss is a very personal thin, and needs to be largely self-motivated. She encourages others to deal with their weight issues early on, get back on your eating healthy because after three pounds, it’s just a slippery road and you can go right down to stones overweigh.