Demi
Mon, Apr-07-08, 01:21
BBC News
London, UK
Published 5 April, 2008
'I am starting to lose my double chin'
Lizzie Butler is taking part in a year-long NHS course to try to lose weight. The BBC News website is following her progress.
Lizzie, aged 13, is nearly half way through her intensive programme to get fitter and healthier.
When she started in November she was an overweight UK size 18, she did little exercise and was fed-up with her shape.
From the age of eight she had been overweight, she over-ate and snacked on sweets and biscuits.
With her mother's support Lizzie joined Watch It (http://www.watchit.nhs.uk/)!, which was developed and pioneered in her home town of Leeds.
Slimming for summer
It aims to motivate children, aged eight to 15, and their parents to lead healthier lifestyles by giving them individual and group help.
Children and teenagers sign up for a year's programme concentrating on physical activity, nutrition and emotional wellbeing.
Lizzie's goal is to be a UK size 10 by her summer holidays this July, and she has already dropped nearly two dress sizes.
Although her weight loss has been small, just over 7lbs (3.1kg), she has dramatically changed her shape by hours of rigorous training in the gym.
"My double chin is going and my hips are slimming down," she said.
"Now you are starting to see more of my pear shape and I can wear nicer clothes.
"I went to a ball the other week and wore a lovely gown and I looked quite slim in it."
Lizzie is determined to keep working at improving her body and says it has been a definite boost seeing her body shape becoming more defined.
"I have now lost seven centimetres off my waist and I really feel the programme is working," she said.
Habits for life
Lizzie's mum Deanne said that the initial focus of the scheme had been on getting her daughter motivated to slim down and get a better body shape, but now the emphasis was switching to a more long-term approach.
"They have just started her off on the ideas and suggestions which will encourage healthy habits for life, such as having three main meals and reducing her snacks.
"They also give her helpful hints such as encouraging her to eat slower and at the moment they are asking her to be the last to finish each meal. This is so she thinks about her food and doesn't rush it and want more.
"She has found it difficult, but she has done it and it is suggestions like this that are having quite a big impact on her eating habits."
Deanne said the post-Christmas period had been particularly hard, with Lizzie losing a bit of enthusiasm in January, but said she is now back on track and as determined as ever.
"She is chugging along. There is no massive difference this time, just small differences," she said.
"We are going in the right direction and Watch It! are very happy with the way she is going.
"Lizzie is definitely more motivated. And she sees a difference now.
"She is pear shaped now, which is a lovely shape to be. She has a more feminine shape and with the work she has done in the gym and the weight loss she is becoming more curvy."
Seeing results
Deanne said that both she and her daughter thought the way the scheme was structured would maximise Lizzie's chances of making lasting, sustainable changes.
The emphasis is not on a quick fix producing dramatic results, but on gradual change that stand more chance of being incorporated into everyday life.
"Everybody wants a massive weight loss, but this is not that," she said.
"I went on a crash diet last year and lost loads of weight then I just piled it on again.
"I am pleased with Watch It! And Lizzie is pleased too. She is seeing the effects and comes in and says 'look mum my waist is a little bit smaller and I am a bit curvier," she added.
Clare Wyke, Lizzie's trainer at Watch It! said that although Lizzie did not appear to have had a large weight loss that this was normal for someone her age as their bones were still growing and this influenced their weight.
"She is regularly going to the gym and changing her attitudes to eating and this is very important."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7294797.stm
London, UK
Published 5 April, 2008
'I am starting to lose my double chin'
Lizzie Butler is taking part in a year-long NHS course to try to lose weight. The BBC News website is following her progress.
Lizzie, aged 13, is nearly half way through her intensive programme to get fitter and healthier.
When she started in November she was an overweight UK size 18, she did little exercise and was fed-up with her shape.
From the age of eight she had been overweight, she over-ate and snacked on sweets and biscuits.
With her mother's support Lizzie joined Watch It (http://www.watchit.nhs.uk/)!, which was developed and pioneered in her home town of Leeds.
Slimming for summer
It aims to motivate children, aged eight to 15, and their parents to lead healthier lifestyles by giving them individual and group help.
Children and teenagers sign up for a year's programme concentrating on physical activity, nutrition and emotional wellbeing.
Lizzie's goal is to be a UK size 10 by her summer holidays this July, and she has already dropped nearly two dress sizes.
Although her weight loss has been small, just over 7lbs (3.1kg), she has dramatically changed her shape by hours of rigorous training in the gym.
"My double chin is going and my hips are slimming down," she said.
"Now you are starting to see more of my pear shape and I can wear nicer clothes.
"I went to a ball the other week and wore a lovely gown and I looked quite slim in it."
Lizzie is determined to keep working at improving her body and says it has been a definite boost seeing her body shape becoming more defined.
"I have now lost seven centimetres off my waist and I really feel the programme is working," she said.
Habits for life
Lizzie's mum Deanne said that the initial focus of the scheme had been on getting her daughter motivated to slim down and get a better body shape, but now the emphasis was switching to a more long-term approach.
"They have just started her off on the ideas and suggestions which will encourage healthy habits for life, such as having three main meals and reducing her snacks.
"They also give her helpful hints such as encouraging her to eat slower and at the moment they are asking her to be the last to finish each meal. This is so she thinks about her food and doesn't rush it and want more.
"She has found it difficult, but she has done it and it is suggestions like this that are having quite a big impact on her eating habits."
Deanne said the post-Christmas period had been particularly hard, with Lizzie losing a bit of enthusiasm in January, but said she is now back on track and as determined as ever.
"She is chugging along. There is no massive difference this time, just small differences," she said.
"We are going in the right direction and Watch It! are very happy with the way she is going.
"Lizzie is definitely more motivated. And she sees a difference now.
"She is pear shaped now, which is a lovely shape to be. She has a more feminine shape and with the work she has done in the gym and the weight loss she is becoming more curvy."
Seeing results
Deanne said that both she and her daughter thought the way the scheme was structured would maximise Lizzie's chances of making lasting, sustainable changes.
The emphasis is not on a quick fix producing dramatic results, but on gradual change that stand more chance of being incorporated into everyday life.
"Everybody wants a massive weight loss, but this is not that," she said.
"I went on a crash diet last year and lost loads of weight then I just piled it on again.
"I am pleased with Watch It! And Lizzie is pleased too. She is seeing the effects and comes in and says 'look mum my waist is a little bit smaller and I am a bit curvier," she added.
Clare Wyke, Lizzie's trainer at Watch It! said that although Lizzie did not appear to have had a large weight loss that this was normal for someone her age as their bones were still growing and this influenced their weight.
"She is regularly going to the gym and changing her attitudes to eating and this is very important."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7294797.stm