My name is Ann and I am 55. I have been overweight my whole adult life. I am 5ft 3in tall and my starting weight was 101.6kgs.

I’ve tried ALL the different diets out there some with success but most without leaving me feeling like a failure. Over the course of my last attempt to lose weight I began gaining weight and couldn’t control it. I had resting metabolic testing done and saw two different Endocrinologists and no one could help me. I was even told by one Endocrinologist and I quote “ some of us are meant to be thin and the rest of us aren’t” and I’m sorry but you aren’t one of the thin people in the world. I even went to an information seminar about bariatric surgery. I also applied to an obesity clinic where I was denied because I wasn’t obese enough. On my Chiropractors suggestion I made an appointment with Dr Cabot. I had decided that if Dr Cabot told me that there was nothing I could do to get my weight under control that I would embrace my curves (flab) and get on with life without the guilt of eating and gaining weight.

When my appointment came around I was a little anxious. I had come bearing blood test results and a body scan that I had done for something else as well as blood results that Dr Cabot had ordered. Dr Cabot was warm and welcoming, she asked me a lot of questions and then read the blood test results and gave me a reason for my inability to lose weight. I had fatty liver disease that was affecting my kidneys. I now had a reason and I felt a load lift from my shoulders. She told me that she could help me and that all I would need at the end of my journey would be a good Plastic Surgeon. Not once did Dr Cabot look down her nose at me or judge me and when I told her I didn’t eat this and that and hadn’t for years she didn’t get that “oh yeah” look on her face. She believed me and understood my constant battle with my weight. I left the appointment with not only a reason for my size but with a plan on how to fix it.

I started on the QuickLoss program the 8th July 2013 and started losing weight straight away. Two weeks in and I had lost 5.3kgs. My next appointment was with Kylie McCarthy the nutrition consultant and she suggested that I try the HCG diet. The first two days are splurge days and I actually gained 2.4kgs over those two days but Kylie assured me to trust the process and to trust her. I did and the weight started to fall off. The HCG diet is VERY restrictive but I had decided to do anything and everything I was asked to because in my mind this was my last ditch effort to conquer my weight issues. I had days when I called Kylie in tears and she never once made me feel foolish or stupid but talked me through my panic and asked me to trust the process. I tracked my food and never deviated from the protocol and I still don’t and in saying that I have now lost over 38kgs in 9 months and am now under my goal weight of 64kgs. For the first time in my adult life I am into a healthy weight range and also my BMI is into the healthy range. I have also lost more than 130cms all over and I have recently had a consultation with a Plastic surgeon to have it removed.

If you are reading this you are looking for something that works or you are following the diet and need some inspiration not to throw it all away for a piece of chocolate, I know I’ve been there I’ve read the testimonials. Please believe me the hard days ARE worth it. Saying no to the chocolate or biscuit or whatever it is, IS more empowering than eating it and then feeling guilty. Love yourself enough to trust this process and believe that you CAN get to where you want to be.

Listening to my Chiropractor, Mary Anne who had already made a massive positive difference to my life and making that first appointment and then following up with Kylie regularly has change my life in ways that I could never imagine. Not only am I the lightest I can ever remember being as an adult but my health has also made a dramatic improvement and I no longer take blood pressure pills something that I had taken for over 20 years and lets face it shopping for clothes in the regular section not the Fat Sheila’s (that is my pet name for the larger sized section) section is now so much fun.

Dr Cabot, thank you for being the first doctor to say the magic words I CAN HELP YOU.

To Kylie thank you for always being on the end of the phone or email to encourage me and inspire me and for believing that I could achieve the results that I have. Thank you also for the many early Saturday morning appointments. I don’t think you realise how big what you have done for me really is.

Marleen thank you for always having a smile on your face even early on Saturday mornings when most other people would still be in bed.

To my Chiropractor Mary Anne who started me on this journey, again you have made an enormous positive impact on my life, you are a big part of my success, Thank you.

To my husband (who came to every visit with me and who has lost 15kg in the process) , my children and my friends who have been a never failing source of support through this journey, Thank you. Without your love and patience I would not have been as successful as I have been.

My Journey started 8th July 2013 and today is 18th April 2014.

My starting weight 101.6kgs. My weight today 62.8kgs.

The first photo below is taken the 4th July 2013 and the second photo taken today 18th April 2014

Ann Dewhurst
NSW, Australia