I can’t
remember
the last time
I had to use
my reliever
inhaler
loses five to 10 per cent of their weight, we see fewer
symptoms and they need less of their medication,’
says Dr Whittamore. ‘Some studies have found it
reduces the amount of inflammation in the airways
as well.’ Despite this, many people don’t realise how
helpful weight loss can be, as was the case for Carol.
Her trigger to tackle her weight issues actually
came on a holiday to Tenerife in June 2017 with her
husband, Peter. ‘I was having a swim while Peter was
taking a walk after lunch,’ she says. ‘But when I went
to get out of the pool, I realised there was no shallow
end, and I couldn’t get back up the steps on the side.
I tried to use the disabled hoist, but it was broken.
Too embarrassed to call for help, I stayed in the waterfor three hours until some ladies realised what was
going on.’ It took three men to pull Carol out of the
water, and when Peter returned to their room later,
he found her in tears. ‘I was so humiliated we ended
up moving hotels,’ she says. ‘And by the last night,
I’d made up my mind. “When I get home, this weight
is coming off,” I told Peter. “I’m never, ever going
through this again”.’
Carol joined her local Slimming World group
in Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear, which is run by
Consultant Bronia Bowe. ‘I’d been a yo-yo dieter for
decades, trying every fad under the sun. I’d always
end up feeling hungry all the time and reverting
to chips and white bread with everything,’ she says.
‘This time, I was focused on making a permanent
lifestyle change, and Food Optimising meant I could
eat plenty while still losing weight each week.’ By
the time her next medication review was due, Carol
had lost 3st. ‘And, when my next prescription was
due for my reliever inhaler, I realised I didn’t actually
need it – I wasn’t using it any more!’ she says.“
”
DID YOU KNOW?People with healthy lungs breathe
in around 11,000 litres of air every
day – enough to fill 5,500 large
bottles of lemonade*
Two years on from her holiday embarrassment,
64-year-old Carol is 6st 8lbs lighter and is wearing
a size 10/12 for the first time in more than 40 years.
Best of all, her asthma is vastly improved. And,
because she’d lost weight, she was able to safely
undergo a hip replacement in May 2018, hitting
target six weeks later despite her new metal hip
weighing 7lbs! Now at her target of 10st 8lbs, she
feels happier and healthier than she ever expected.
‘Losing weight has transformed my life. I walk
10,000 steps a day now and I can’t remember the
last time I had to use my reliever inhaler,’ says Carol.
‘I just take my preventer inhaler twice a day and
my peak flow is the highest it’s ever been. My doctor
is thrilled.’ Carol’s mum and husband both tell her
how happy they are to see her so active and healthy.
‘Peter is like a dog with two tails,’ she says. ‘He loved
me whatever size I was, but he was terrified of losing
me.’ The couple have since returned to Tenerife and
Carol was able to explore the island on foot with
Peter for the first time. ‘We bumped into a couple
we know and they didn’t recognise me at first. I was
slimmer, I wasn’t doubled over, and I looked so
much younger! I’ve got a zest for life, and I feel
happy all the time. I’ll always have asthma but I can
manage it now – it doesn’t control me.’ >health check
SLIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE 93