Lambeth healthy weight hub

Lambeth Healthy Weight Hub

Christine - I tried other weight loss programmes before. So when my GP referred me to the Healthy Weight Hub I didn't expect much. But they said this one was different.

It took me and my culture into account and focused on long-term lifestyle and not just weight. What stood out when I got there was the diversity in the room. People of different ages and backgrounds. Yet, we were all on the same journey and most importantly for me,it was a safe space.

We talked about emotional eating,about celebrating small wins,learning how to cook my meals, my culture meals, in a healthy way, and it's just portion control with my food more than anything, and just listening to my body.

When I'm full, I'm full. I'll stop.In my house dinner is rice and peas, stew chicken, curry goat. The week before Christmas, actually, I was kind of in a panic because I was like - I didn't want to undo all the progress that I had made.

So I spoke to one of the facilitators and they basically just explained, like, no, we're not telling you not to enjoy your Christmas, but be in control of it.

I've included so much more vegetables now, which I mean, I didn't know what broccolini was,now I do.

I kind of thought that in order to lose weight you had to go to gym. Then I learnt that the simple task of just doing the school run,just walking, it all adds up.

I think, before, I don't think I was very kind to myself.I know what it feels like to feel isolated and to feel alone because of my weight. And I missed so many amazing opportunities to create memories with friends and families, and even with my own children.I'm a single parent. I've got 2 daughters, and there were so many things that I missed out on.

I have to be honest, I didn't want to do a group setting. I actually wanted to have one-to-one. But that was my fear. But I realised it was way more beneficial being around amazing people.

And, yeah I've made friends. Myself and Maria,we've stayed in contact, it's really nice to, like, to have someone that understands and that's on the same journey.It makes it a lot easier.

I prefer tracking my progress with clothes. I had these pair of jeans that my daughter had bought me for Christmas, and they could not fit. And then, one day, I put them on and I buttoned them up,and I was so happy.

I'm not doing this because it's going to be [for] ,I don't know, a wedding or a christening or whatever. There's no special occasion. This is just how I want to be. Like, I always want to have a healthier life.

So, I would say if you're wondering if you should join the Healthy Weight Hub, I say go for it 1,000,000%.

Lambeth Healthy Weight Hub

Lambeth Heathy Weight Hub

Daniel - The letter from the GP said it's a 10-year disease.

I say, OK, I got 10 years just to change that, that story, you know.

The most important thing was thinking of my kid because he's 19 months old and I need to be healthy and strong because this boy is growing up so quick. That's how I ended up in the healthy weight hub.

At first, I wasn't sure what to expect. It's not about cutting everything out or following a strict diet. It's practical. We talk about small changes you can actually manage, like planning meals, looking at habits and understanding why you eat the way you do.

They showed us on a picture the portions of the foods. Sometimes the carbs can be just like a closed-hand portion and the protein has to be like an expanded hand and that's the portions, and how I should take it but I was completely wrong. Because the carbs were the whole plate with a small protein, and a small vegetables.

But I changed all that because of the programme.

In my background there is a different way, you know, it has to be a full plate of everything. Carbs over carbs, and what the programme taught me is to consider what the portions of calories are for each meal.

Sometimes knowing other people getting through the same problem as you, tells you that you're not alone in this issue, and there's a lot of people as well, like giving you support.

My biggest problem is the snacking late, eating late at night, and it's very dangerous for my health. Since I've been in the programme, they teach me how to control my old patterns of how I eat and how I manage my diet.

I feel proud of the changes I'm making. I'm not chasing a quick fix, I'm thinking long term. It's about progress not perfection.

Before this interview, I just found out I just lost like 6-and-a-half kilos.

Really, it's not about aesthetics, it's about how you feel with your life and your health.

This kind of programme makes you feel more comfortable with yourself and you will see the difference in the end of the programme.

It really helped me, it really teach [taught] me how to live my life.

You know, I'm 46 years old and I'm still learning; they are teaching me how to make the meals and how to keep myself healthy.

Lambeth Healthy Weight Hub