Bikini babe ... the new Lisa Jona
LISA JONA knew it was time to change her life when she didn’t recognise HERSELF in the mirror.
The 27-year-old had hit a hefty 19st and was a size 24. Lisa, a senior hotel events manager from Dartford, began putting on the weight in her early 20s.
At 23 she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, and her weight may have made it worse. At 26, Lisa was 19st. She says: “I looked in the mirror one morning and realised it wasn’t ‘me’. I knew it was time to get my life in order.
“I joined Fit Squad and set myself a goal and gradually lost it. I’m now down to 13st 6lbs and wear a size 14.
“My skin is so much better, which is an outward sign that my illness is getting better, and I feel fantastic.”
Diet
LISA says: “I was a carbohydrate junkie. I’d have two slices of white toast with butter and a cup of tea with two sugars for breakfast.
“Over the day I’d have about ten cups of sugary tea.
“At lunchtime I’d have a bacon and brie sandwich with crisps, then a huge pasta meal like lasagne with loads of garlic bread for dinner.
Before ... Lisa Jona felt her weight didn't reflect her true self
“Quite often I would eat a whole tub of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and I’d scoff around six chocolate Hob-Nob biscuits during the day plus a couple of cans of fizzy drink.”
Diet expert Amanda Ursell says: “The exact cause of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS for short, is not known.
“But lifestyle factors like being overweight are believed to contribute to the problem, which can cause infertility, poor skin and low moods. It was vital for Lisa to follow any advice her doctor gave her, but I explained scientific studies have shown losing weight – especially when following a low-GI diet like the Fit Squad plan – can help improve symptoms.
“It was important for Lisa to swap to low-GI meals like Special K, porridge, All-Bran or sugar-free muesli for breakfast or something like eggs on granary toast.
“Lunch should be pitta or tortilla wraps with lean protein fillings like lean meat or fish, or something like a salad with the same protein types.
"For dinner Lisa needed to stick with simple meals such as grilled, baked or steamed fish, chicken and lean meats or vegetable-based dishes like baked beans on toast.
“All would help to control blood sugar levels and stop her cravings for quickly digested carbohydrates and sugar.
“I explained to Lisa that it was likely she would quickly begin to feel more in control and that – as she shed pounds and then stones – some of her symptoms would hopefully disappear.”
Meal plan
Breakfast: A bowl of Special K cereal
Mid am: Some pineapple
Lunch: Prawn salad no dressing
Dinner: Grilled steak, salmon or chicken with lots of green vegetables
Fitness
LISA says: “Although I am tall, I’m also naturally pear-shaped. My body doesn’t seem to change even when I exercise, which used to make me give up quickly.
“I wanted to know if there was any way I could shift weight from my hips and thighs – or if I was destined to be a pear forever
Fitness expert Nicki Waterman says: “I explained to Lisa that hip and thigh fat doesn’t metabolise as easily as abdominal fat so if you carry weight around this area it is going to take a little longer to shift.
“Lisa had to be patient. If she felt her legs were not improving, she needed to mix up her training.”
Nicki advised that Lisa did one circuit class a week and build up to one 40-minute run a week too.
Nicki says: “She also needed to make sure that she did some other form of cardiovascular work, such as swimming or cycling, plus an exercise that addressed posture and flexibility, such as yoga or pilates. This would help lengthen her muscles.”
But Nicki warned that slimming her thighs and hips should not be her only focus.
She explains: “Sculpting arms and shoulders can make hips and thighs look smaller, so I advised Lisa to ask a gym instructor at her local leisure centre to show her an effective upper-body routine.
“For Lisa, a key consideration of her weight loss was her day-to-day general activity. She really needed more of it. I suggested walking briskly for 30 to 60 minutes a day.
“It boosts your calorie expenditure by up to 500 per day if you walk quickly. I wanted Lisa to build up to 14,000 steps a day.
“To ensure she progressed, I asked her to keep a daily fitness diary.”
Fashion
LISA says: “Despite my height, I’ve got a real issue with my legs and belly.
She's electric ... Lisa rocks a blue frock
“I never wear dresses as I feel they just don’t suit me at all.
“And I really hate my legs, even though everyone compliments me on them.
“Show me that I can wear dresses and feel good about myself in them!”
Fashion expert Erica says: “Lisa is mad not to make the most of her pins.
“I just can’t believe someone with such long, shapely legs has got such a hang-up about them.
“Lisa has worked really hard to lose the weight – and now is the perfect time to showcase the results of her efforts.
“As our bikini diet slimmer, Lisa actually felt more comfortable posing in the bikini than she did in a dress.
“She looks great in both, but really needs to learn how to build her confidence in terms of her fashion choices.
“For example, she sticks to jeans and long tunic tops for everyday wear and has only recently got out of her black trousers and black top uniform.
“Lisa is a really stunning girl who can afford to wear – and carry off – bold colours like this gorgeous electric blue.
“It is one of the hottest shades of the season and looks fab with a tan.
“It also really compliments her blue eyes. As she is so reluctant to get her legs out, I wanted to break her in gently!
“We chose a dress that hit her knee so that it shows off a shapely calf.
“With the V neckline and the embroidery detailing around the top, the eye is drawn there rather than anything lower – which makes Lisa happy!
“She was initially wary about the skirt length as she thought it was really short. But, ultimately, she was pleased she wore it as it is such a different look for her.
“The colour of the dress is just perfect on her and it looked great cinched in with this belt from New Look.”
Lisa’s verdict and top tips
LISA says: “I just feel so, so much better. I’ve got lots more energy and my skin is better.
“I’m no longer in pain from my PCOS and now, when I look in the mirror, I like what I see looking back.”
Lisa has this advice to wannabe slimmers:
WHEN you are at your heaviest, you think that losing weight is impossible. I decided to take it half a stone at a time so that each goal was achievable.
IT’S vital you make yourself more active. I work at a desk and drove my car to the office every day. I decided to walk in more often and take little walks during the day. It was a real breakthrough for me and has definitely helped me to shed my 6st. I really enjoy it now and feel odd if I don’t get my steps in.
REMEMBER that when you feel tempted to eat something fattening, you will only get a few minutes of pleasure from it. Nothing tastes as good as it feels to be able to wear nice clothes again.
CREDITS: Main picture: Bikini, £29, M&S.
Above: Electric blue dress, £45, M&S; floral shoes, £22, and belt, £8, both New Look; bangles, £10 each, Freedom at Topshop