Lost almost 22 pounds!

“I’m Ingrid, I’ve been married to Peter for 29 years. We have a beautiful house together, a beautiful garden and a nice family. All absolutely wonderful. I’m having a great time with my life. I like Russian very much opera and ballet.The music, the composers, the dancers, the choreographers, the costumes and the sets, it’s all really beautiful!

I have always worked full-time, and I have done many courses, including economics, computer science and organizational science. I enjoy working and also studying. I have changed a lot in jobs and functions, I like change. I now work as a business analyst at an insurance company, doing preliminary research there and setting up projects. Since 1998 I am very much involved with NLP. That is a way of coaching that really appeals to me. It’s about helping others change. It has enriched my life immensely.”

slow metabolism

Despite her happy life, Ingrid was unhappy with her weight. She used to think that the extra kilos were due to her diet and too little exercise and therefore regularly blamed herself for being overweight. “Moving was also difficult for me because I had problems with the joints in my back and knees from a young age, and I had too little muscle strength. I already thought I was fat when I was 10. But since I was 40 I have known that my thyroid has been I’ve shriveled up a lot and that’s why my metabolism is a lot slower, which explains why it was so hard to lose weight and stay slim, and why I’m so good at growing.

I’ve had any weight between 68 and 108 pounds for the past 20 years. In the past I have lost a lot of weight with a lot of discipline. I went from 95 to 75, and again to 85. Then (once) to 68, that was my ideal weight according to the tables, but that doesn’t suit me. Then up again, to just above 100. And back to 92 and like a real yo-yo on to 109. And now below 88. And forever!”

Let the engine burn

When asked how Ingrid lost weight, she says: “Very simple actually. With iron discipline, healthy eating and more exercise. What I did differently than in previous attempts was eating four brown sandwiches in a day. I am very reluctant, with crispbread and such. The disadvantage of this was that the bowel movements stop, and that does not help! With the brown sandwiches (with chicken breast or low-fat cheese, sometimes mackerel) the motor burns nicely. I also eat oranges (I prefer (mostly fruit allergic), raw vegetables, low-fat yogurt and sensible hot meals, in limited portions. Even now that I’m at my goal weight I still do everything exactly the same, only I allow myself some tasty things on the weekend.”

Just when Ingrid was completely overweight, she saw an advertisement for the Plus Slimming Service. She signed up immediately and really likes the slimming service. “The contact with fellow sufferers is nice. I once did Weight Watchers, and for me the site actually works the same, but every day and for free! On the Plus site I found others who were around 50 years old. Other women with problems with exercise, thyroid etc. And I saw that there are people of the same age and with health obstacles who also lose weight! That helped me to believe that I could do it! The power of the slimming service is really the contact with fellow sufferers, who followed a similar path. And the design helps, it all looks very nice.”

Stabilize

You often hear that losing weight is more difficult as you get older. But for Ingrid it was all not so bad. “I expected it to be much more difficult, but it is not. Only moving now has real limitations, 20 years ago I could do more. But the motivation is strong now. I don’t want to be a precocious elderly person. I am not completely healthy, I want to keep moving as long as possible, as well as possible! And for that I want to stay at this weight. That is a difference with before: stabilization is better. I stopped just under 90 kg, because Losing more weight, I can do that, but then keeping it that way, that is no longer possible at too low a weight.”

As advice, Ingrid refers to a beautiful text by Freek de Jonge ‘Don’t be afraid, you can always start over’. “We’ve all tried it many times. Still: keep on starting! And believe you can! You are truly worthy of being healthy and fit. Once you’ve really started, you’ll feel better and better. By eating healthy, slowly getting fitter, looking better, and being proud of yourself for persevering. All that together is a great boost!”

Have you become curious about PlusOnline’s Slimming Service after reading Ingrid’s success story? And have those kilos been in your way for years? Then take a look at the slimming service. Creating a profile is free, so the step to a healthier life is very close!