After years of feeling limited by her weight and unsure where to turn for help, Gill reached a point where she knew something needed to change. What followed was a year of steady determination, renewed confidence and experiences she never imagined she would enjoy again. Today she describes this simply as life changing.
Realising something had to shift
Gill’s journey began when she bumped into a former colleague who looked dramatically slimmer. The transformation made her stop and think. As Gill says, “I kept looking at her and thinking, my goodness, she is half the person she used to be.”
At the time Gill had a BMI of over 60 and had been referred to NHS bariatric services, but the process felt overwhelming. She knew bariatric surgery was not the right option for her. As she explains, “I wanted something that felt less invasive, something that gave me a way forward without going down the surgery route.”
She reached out to CheqUp, completed the medical questionnaire and began treatment in mid November. Gill’s goal was straightforward, she wanted to feel well again, keep up with her daughter and granddaughters and enjoy the life she had been missing.
Starting with CheqUp is the best thing I have ever done for myself.
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A year of progress and new possibilities
As the months passed Gill made steady progress. Her weight dropped from over 30 stone to around 23 stone, a current loss of more than seven stone. “It has changed my life,” she says. “I used to drive everywhere because I didn’t have the energy to walk. Now I am the one out in front telling everyone to keep up.”
Walking, which once left her breathless and anxious, became something she genuinely enjoyed. She often avoided outings with friends because she worried she would slow them down. “Before, I was always lagging behind,” she says. “Now I walk back from the pub and I’m the one leading the way.”
Her confidence grew in ways she did not expect. She began buying clothes she loved again, rediscovered bright colours and stopped avoiding the camera. Looking back at older photos, she barely recognises the person she sees. “When I look at old pictures now I think, oh my goodness, that was me,” she says. “Now I’m not bothered at all about being in photos.”
A significant moment came during the summer when she joined her granddaughters for a swim in the sea. “I had not done that in years,” she says. “Never in this country. But there I was in the water with them. It was a lovely moment.”
Building new habits and a healthier routine
As Gill’s confidence increased her daily habits shifted too. She introduced more structure into her meals, moved away from bread as her main staple and explored foods like eggs, wraps and salads. Snacks became simple and nourishing, with celery quickly becoming her go to option. “If I feel like I’ve got the munchies,” she says, “I just go and chew on some celery.”
Batch cooking helped her stay organised. “If I have vegetables left at the end of the week they go straight into the soup pot,” she says. “Nothing gets wasted now.” Her shopping habits transformed as well. “I used to spend ninety odd pounds a week,” she says. “Now it’s about thirty. Everything is different.”
Adapting to change and finding support
Gill transitioned from her previous treatment to Wegovy around seven weeks ago. At first she was unsure if it was working. “I thought they had given me a placebo,” she says. “My appetite didn’t feel suppressed at all.” As the weeks went on the effects became more noticeable and more in line with what she had experienced before.
Six weeks ago Gill joined a women only gym after describing herself as gym phobic for many years. She now attends three times a week and follows a personalised programme that is reviewed regularly. Although her weight has fluctuated slightly while adjusting to her new routine she feels stronger and more capable than she has in years.
Throughout this time she stayed closely connected with her health coach Goda. “She has been so helpful,” Gill says. “Lunchtime was always the meal I struggled with, and she gave me ideas and tips that really helped. I look forward to our calls.” The regular guidance helped her stay consistent and confident as she navigated changes.
Discovering a new way of living
The transformation in Gill’s day to day life has been remarkable. She feels healthier, more sociable and more self assured. Where she once cancelled plans at the last minute she now looks forward to them. She recently enjoyed a weekend away with a group of friends and even joined them in the hot tub. “I would never have done that before,” she says. “Not in a million years.”
Time with her granddaughters has become richer too. She can walk them to the beach, swim without hesitation and join in activities without worrying about tiredness or breathlessness. Staying at her caravan in Anglesey during the school Summer holiday was filled with walks, beach trips and memories she would previously have missed. “It has opened up a whole new lease of life,” she says.
Travel has also become easier. Earlier this year she flew for the first time in seven years and was relieved to find she no longer needed an extension belt. “When I go again in April,” she says, “I know I won’t need one at all. That is a huge milestone for me.”
Looking ahead with confidence
Gill sees the past year as one of the best decisions she has ever made. “This has changed my life,” she says. “I feel fit and well, and I feel ten years younger.”
Moving forward, Gill does not focus on a specific target weight, instead she is committed to steady progress and maintaining the changes she has already made. “Even a pound a week feels good,” she says. “I just want to keep going.”
She is now planning holidays, outings and theatre trips for the year ahead. These are things she once avoided because she worried about her weight. Now she feels ready for all of them.
Reflecting on how she began, Gill often thinks about the moment everything changed. “If I hadn’t bumped into that girl last year I might never have done this,” she says. “Starting with CheqUp is the best thing I have ever done for myself.”
