‘I’ve lost a stone’
Natalie Mensah, 29, was so self-conscious about baring her lower half on the beach;
she couldn’t bring herself to book a holiday.
‘I’ve spent
my life ruled by the scales – dropping pounds quickly with a silly fad diet,
then piling it all back on. This challenge changed all that. Not only am I
lighter, slimmer and happier, but – thanks to my trainer Paul – I’ve learned to
stop fixating on my weight and focus more on how my clothes feel. As a result,
I’ve lost over 8 inches all over.
‘Eight
weeks ago, I absolutely hated working out. Now, I’ve become one of those women
who actually want to go to the gym and leaves feeling so much better about
myself. I never, ever thought I’d be converted into a gym bunny! My friends and
family can’t believe the transformation. But hearing them tell me how great I
look has made all the hard work so worth it. The final photo shoot – more to
the point, the thought of baring all in swimwear –
drove me to work even harder during the last few weeks. So I signed up to a new
gym near my house, with the aim of going three times week before work. I’ve
realized that if something makes you feels good, you can always make time for
it, however busy you are.
‘Above all,
though, I’ve finally learned to accept my body shape. I’ve always had issues
with my bottom half but, thanks to Paul’s encouragement, I’ve accepted that I’m
never going to have a tiny bum – and, as it’s far more toned now, I’m learning
to love it. Besides, everyone raves about Beyonce’s
booty, so maybe having a bigger bum isn’t such a bad thing after all. I’ve
finally found the confidence to book my summer holiday, too – it’s the goal I
need to keep me on the straight and narrow. For the first time ever I can’t
wait to get into my bikini!’
How
Natalie measures up
Height: 5ft 2½ in
BEFORE
Weight:
11st 13½lb
Waist: 31in
Thigh: 26in
Natalie Mensah
(Before)
AFTER
Weight: 10st13lb
Waist: 28in
Thigh: 25in
Natalie Mensah
(After)
How she
did it
A diet of
lean protein and veg with no wheat or sugar, Boosting
her water intake throughout the day.
Running three times a week.
Fat-burning workout three times a week.
How
she’ll keep it off
Personal
trainer Paul Vallis (paulvallistraining.com), says,
‘The last two months haven’t been easy for Natalie, mainly because of her busy
job. But now she’s found a way to make time for exercise, she just needs to
keep my eating tips in mind, too. Her downfall was the treats on offer at
client meetings. Eating slowly, making a conscious effort to chew every
mouthful. Will stop her from scoffing a pain au chocolate at
a breakfast meeting without a thought. She’ll feel fuller faster eat
less and will always be in control of what she’s eating – essential for keeping
off the weight she’s worked so hard to lose.’
