27 Aug Harlow’s Louise praises local weight management service following lifestyle improvements
A local woman from Harlow has highlighted the importance of keeping a healthy weight after losing over 4 stone on a weight management programme during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Louise Mills, aged 41 had been struggling to lose weight for most of her adult life before being referred by her local GP to take part in a free 12-month adult weight management programme with MoreLife Essex at the start of the pandemic.
She said, “With the growing number of fast-food apps it can become far too easy to slip into a bad routine. I was living alone, coming back from work tired and often chose what was easiest and not what is healthiest.
“I got into a mindset where I’d say I’ll eat healthily tomorrow, and then the next day and then the next. While my weight wasn’t affecting my health medically, I was the biggest I’d ever been and knew I had to change with Covid-19 looming.”
MoreLife Essex are a national provider of healthy lifestyle services, commissioned by local CCG’s to run free adult weight management programmes in South and West Essex.
The psychologically informed programmes are run by an expert team of weight management practitioners through 12-weekly sessions which are designed to give clients the tools and knowledge to make healthy improvements to their life.
With a lack of self-confidence Louise was initially anxious at the thought of virtual group sessions, but quickly changed her mind after meeting the group and practitioner.
Louise said; “I didn’t like the idea of virtual meetings, but they were much better suited for my busy lifestyle. You don’t have to rush around getting to one place after work, you can relax and engage from the comfort of your own home. I felt so welcomed amongst the group and it really supported my journey being around likeminded people.”
From improving eating habits to the power of sleep, increasing physical activity levels to managing stress, the programme gave Louise the skills to make small improvements to her life. She successfully lost 4 stone, 9lb weight loss over the course of the programme.
Louise said; “The programme has given me the tools to make my day-to-day life easier. I can get out of bed easier, I can walk a lot easier, I no longer suffer from insomnia. While I know I’ve still got a way to go on my journey I now have the confidence to know how to do the right things and live a healthier life.”
With a new love for adventure walking, Louise has set herself a new target of walking 630 miles in 2021 to support her continued weight loss.
Emily Costelloe, MoreLife Essex Contract Manager, said; “The past year has certainly not been without It’s challenges for local residents, which makes it all the more inspiring to see individuals make that first step and take better control of her weight and health over the course of the programme.”
“We have seen throughout the pandemic that the virtual weight management groups have seen strong outcomes for our clients and we are looking forward to also re-launching our face-to-face groups later this year to provide flexible options for those in need of our support.”
