I lost 100lbs and my excess skin WITHOUT fat jabs – I went from a dress size 22 to 10, here’s how
A WOMAN lost 100lbs (7st 2lbs) as well as excess skin without the help of weight loss injections.
Jamie Louise Loader, 31, impressively dropped six dress sizes, going from a 22 to 10.
But before her incredible transformation, Jamie says she was hiding from the world and felt uncomfortable in her own skin.
The learning difficulty support worker hit a low point when she was on yearly holiday in Italy with her family.
She was “horrified” at a picture that was taken of her and thought her extra weight added years on to her appearance.
“We holiday yearly in Italy and I had a photo taken and I was horrified by it,” she said.
“I looked really big and looked over 15 years older than I actually was.
“I just felt uncomfortable and unhappy with how I was and how I looked.”
“I didn’t get much attention when I was bigger, I used to hide myself. was so unhappy with who I was.
“I hated how I looked, how I felt, I had no confidence and used to fake being happy when I was so sad at how big and unhappy I was.”
After years of being under-confident and feeling as if she got no attention from others because of her size, Jamie knew that it was time to take action and started her weight loss journey that would stick this time.
Jamie had tried every diet and fad under the sun, from fasting to shakes and pills and Slimming World.
Jamie said: “I’ve tried fasting, fad diets, shakes, pills, pretty much everything, even Slimming World a few times but failed.
“But this time it just clicked for me when I realised I needed to be disciplined and consistent.”
She stayed at Slimming World for an entire four years.
During this time she prioritised protein, fruit, and vegetables in her diet and tried to get at least 10,000 steps in per day.
She lost 98 pounds while using the programme, but soon realised that she was left with some excess loose skin.
At times it was very difficult, but I kept disciplined, motivated and looked at the bigger picture making small changes
Jamie Louise Loader
It wasn’t until she joined the gym in November 2021 – in an effort to tone her loose skin – that she really felt she was making progress.
She got a personal trainer in August of 2022 and would do cardio and resistance training for two to three days per week.
Now, she trains up to four mornings per week and feels as though it has been the best thing she has ever done for herself.
Jamie says: “I’m happier in myself to not need to hide. I feel amazing, I feel like a new person, much more positive in every aspect of life and have more confidence and self-belief.
What worked for Jamie this time?
Jamie has lost weight over four years. This means that she has taken things slowly.
“I realised I needed to be disciplined and consistent,” she said.
That means no quick fixes and being patient with results.
Instead, she focused on trying to stick to key habits.
These were:
- Prioritised protein, fruit, and vegetables in her diet
- Get at least 10,000 steps in per day
- Go to the gym three to four times a week, doing a mix of cardio and weight training
“I can now shop where I want, do what makes me happy and my confidence is up. I enjoy life to the fullest and take each day at a time.
“Now I put myself out there and talk to everyone spreading the word and positivity.”
Weight resistance training helped Jamie gain muscle and gave her a sense of self-belief she never knew she could have.
She even had the confidence to partake in a fitness photo shoot after years of feeling like she lived in the shadows.
“The gym has helped me physically to get strong, tone up some loose skin and get definition so much so, I did a fitness photo shoot,” she said.
“I’ve met friends for life in the gym, there’s so much support.
“I’ve gained confidence in myself that I can do it.
“I train first thing in the morning and it sets me up for the day. I feel so much more calm, less anxious and determined.”
Jamie decided to share her weight loss journey on Instagram to show the realities of real and sustainable weight loss.
She says it wasn’t always a piece of cake.
“At times it was very difficult, but I kept disciplined, motivated and looked at the bigger picture making small changes,” she said.
“I enjoyed social events and found a really good balance but still being disciplined when needed to step it up.
“A few people on Instagram say I inspire them and I give them motivation.
“A lady in the gym even said she wanted my figure which I couldn’t believe at all.
“My mentality changed massively for the better.”
How does Slimming World work?
The Slimming World diet is run by a Derbyshire-based weight loss company created by Margaret Miles-Bramwell in 1969.
The programme encourages dieters to swap high-fat foods for low-fat foods that are naturally filling.
It focuses on a diet of Food Optimising, where members are given a list of Syn Free food that can be eaten in unlimited amounts.
This list includes fruit, vegetables, pasta, potatoes, rice, lean meat, fish and eggs.
While no foods are off limits, some of the restricted, known as Syns, have values attached.
Users get a total number of daily Syns they can consume. Mostly this ranges from around five to 15 a day.
Examples of Syns are a glass of wine of a piece of chocolate.
Healthy Extras are foods that can’t be eaten ‘unlimited’ and are supposed to be eaten alongisde the Syn Free foods.
They include milk and cheese for calcium, wholemeal bread and breakfast cereals for fibre and nuts and seeds for healthy fat.
The Slimming World diet is designed to help you lose about 1-2 pounds a week.