As you know Josie is working on a new weight loss website these questions will be to gather data to help with the website. please share and like the posts and answer as many as you can a huge thanks for your support from Josie XX
Josie Gibson: 'Losing weight is down to changing your lifestyle – here’s how to do it'
When Josie dropped 6 stone, her four best mates couldn’t wait to follow suit.
We all know that feeling when a friend loses weight and suddenly looks extra amazing. We can’t wait to pump them for information on what they are eating, if they are exercising, and how soon can we get started!
Josie and friends
That’s exactly what happened when Josie Gibson lost 6 stone and why she’s delighted to be our latest Come Diet With Us mentor to help her best friends – and you - lose weight like her. And her diet and fitness plan has already proved so effective that one of her friends – Jeanette Anjorin - has already lost a whopping six stone in five months! (read her story so far, below)
'My weight loss has motivated my friends and has shown them they don't have to be unhappy with how they look'
5ft 11 Josie, 28, who last year overhauled her diet and body taking her from a size 20 and 16 stone at her biggest to a 10, explains: 'My weight loss has motivated my friends and has shown them they don’t have to be unhappy with how they look. I’ve taught them not to bother with fad diets. It’s all about keeping your body full with natural, ‘clean’ (unprocessed) foods. It’s not just about losing weight – it’s about feeling good too. You get to an age where you don’t want to feel bad about yourself any more.'
And as Josie recently gained 10 pounds on an all-inclusive holiday in Tenerife, taking her to 10st 12lbs, she says she will be doing the plan with her friends to get ready for summer.
'I can’t wait to back in the gym. I was drinking every night and eating everything in sight. But it’s important to have a treat every now and then, especially on holiday. My weight still yo-yos but this time round I know how to lose the weight so I’m not worried about getting back in shape, and I’ve got my girls to do it with.'
Josie’s friends will be following the same high protein low carb diet she lost weight with – as well as lots of interval training, known to burn fat fast.
She explains: 'People get bored of exercise quickly so we’ll be doing lots of short, snappy circuits so they don’t realise they’re working out as hard as they are. I’m going to take them all food shopping, tell them which aisles to avoid and check everything they put in their trolleys.
'I’ve told them they need to try and make everything from scratch, so they need to be organised, but it can be done! It doesn’t work for everyone but I also find that weighing myself every morning puts me in the right frame of mind. It’s all part of changing your lifestyle and feeling more positive.'
And everyone dieting and exercising together to support each other, Josie is confident her friends will be just as successful as her.
Meet the dieters
Josie’s four best mates – Jeanette, Kate, Denise and Laura – will all be following her 1,250 calorie high protein eating plan, as well as exercising together and doing her 30 Second Slim DVD to lose weight for summer. Josie’s workout concentrates on short bursts of interval training including lunges, squats and sit ups that tone and burn fat in less time.
Follow their progress each week, and even lose weight too on, Josie’s plan at Closer Online.
'I've completely changed the way I eat and don't see it as a diet, more of a lifestyle change'
Jeanette
'I’ve already lost six stone on Josie’s diet since November. I’m really pleased. I’ve completely changed the way I eat and I don’t see it as a diet, more of a lifestyle change. Even my partner Rob Bishop [43] has weight. He was 14 stone and is now 12st 7bs. I also have more energy to look after my son Charlie, one.
My diet before was a late breakfast (if I ate it at all) of buttery toast, McDonald’s for lunch and fajitas or anything with potatoes for dinner. Crisps were the worst things for me. I’d snack on them all day, or chocolate, biscuits – anything for a quick fix. I’d sometimes cook with Rob, who doesn’t live with me, but mainly because I got home late from work I’d just throw something quick in the oven. I don’t drink much alcohol but going out I’d have sugary drinks like vodka and Red Bull or shots.
I’m pleased I’ve already lost six stone but now I need to start exercising to tone up.
I was very active as a child – I did a lot of football and gymnastics - but when I hit my teens I discovered takeaways and piled on the weight. I just ate what I liked and didn’t worry about it.
I met Josie on holiday when she was 16 and we’ve been friends ever since. We’d always been big together and eating was a big part of our friendship, especially on holidays where we enjoyed eating the local cuisine. When she lost all the weight I realised I could too. I’d been considering having weight loss surgery to do it because I wanted a quick fix but luckily she talked me out of it.
The turning point was my son’s christening. My dress was really tight and when I saw the photos it made me realise I didn’t want to look like that any more and I wasn’t fit enough to be a good mum. Also, my GP told me she was concerned as I weighed more than when I was pregnant (I was 23 stone and a size 24-26), which was a real wake up call.
The first few weeks on Josie’s diet was hard but when I saw the results – I lost 9 pounds in a week – it encouraged me to carry on. I’ve already lost six stone and feel happier and more confident and my dress sense is getting more daring.
I work out with Josie and do her DVD. It’s funny watching it as she’s my best friend, but it works. Seeing her results is a great incentive. I’ve also learnt to cook and eat lots of protein with veg and salad. I really enjoy it. I also use Myfitnesspal to track what I’m eating. It’s a good way to keep in track.'
'Food is a big thing in our family. It’s the reason I gained weight as we always eat a full English for breakfast, lasagne and chips for lunch and a roast for dinner. I’ve changed my habits and lost four stone in three years with Slimming World to get to from 16 stone and a size 22-24 to a size 14.
'At school I was bullied for my weight and was more one of the boys while the pretty girls had boyfriends'
I work for the family business Kingsley Smythe (we XX) so we’re often away at exhibitions and XX. We eat on the go and when we’re home we always eat big portions and big meals with lots of bread and butter. Snacking on crisps is also my absolute downfall!
When I got down to a size 14 in March it made me realise I could lose a bit more with Josie’s help and get rid of my tummy. We met a few years ago through a mutual friend and have hung out ever since.
I wanted to lose weight for health reasons and already my confidence has really improved. Before I could only buy clothes from Evans and going on a flight was humiliating as I the seat was too tight.
I’ve never been slim. At school I was bullied for my weight and was more one of the boys while the pretty girls had boyfriends.
I really want to reach my target in time for the summer so as well as the meal plan, I’m concentrating on toning up. I hadn’t been to the gym for about six years until Josie took me to circuits. It was so tough! After circuits I thought we were done and Josie made me do a spinning class. I’ve never sweated so much in my life!'
'I know I’m not big but I want to tone up and lose the 12lbs I gained since starting my new job in October as a sales consultant. We always get given treats like cakes and biscuits for doing a good job and I find it really hard to resist. We’ve got a work car park too so I don’t walk as much as I used to.
'I want to look good and feel confident in a bikini'
I’m a single mum to Freddie, four, so I often skip breakfast as I don’t have time to make it, lunch is a chicken salad sandwich, dinner is something fast like pizza. My mum Caroline, who lives with me, eats really well so if I’m home I’ll eat healthily with her.
My worst habits are eating out too much after work – usually Nando’s or Zizzi’s where I eat anything and everything – and drinking. I don’t go out more than once a week but when I do I have white wine, shots, you name it.
I really want to get back to 11 stone because my friend Louise Lambert is getting married in Corfu on June 12. I want to look good and feel confident in a bikini for that. I’ll be flying over with about 10 mates and I don’t want to feel like covering up when I’m there.
I’m confident I can stick to Josie’s diet because it’s so straightforward. I’m looking forward to starting exercise again and feeling better about my tummy.'
'At weekends I binge on champagne, kebabs and cheesy chips'
Denise
'I was a size 12 for years, even after I had my kids (now 30, 22 and 20). But after being diagnosed with cervical cancer at 31, I had a hysterectomy and started putting on weight. Although I like healthy food, at weekends I binge on champagne, kebabs and cheesy chips. I need to cut right back on the booze to be successful at this diet. I recently cut out chocolate completely, which is a good start!'
Want to overhaul your fitness and diet, just like Josie Gibson? Then check out the eating plan she followed to achieve her incredible 6-stone weight loss
Here’s what to do to slim down like Josie…
Breakfasts (around 250 calories each)
CHOOSE ONE EACH DAY
Sultana and honey porridge
Porridge made from 4tbsp porridge oats and 135ml each of skimmed or soya milk and water with tbsp sultanas and 1tsp honey
Poached eggs on wholemeal toast
1 slice wholegrain toast with 2 poached eggs and 1 grilled tomato
Fresh fruit medley
A handful of seedless grapes, 1 satsuma, 1 plum, 1 banana and 1 apple
1 bottle of fruit smoothie, 1 banana and 1 satsuma
2 poached eggs with 2 grilled turkey rashers, 1 grilled tomato and grilled mushrooms
Banana and peanut butter on toast
1 slice wholegrain toast topped with 1tbsp peanut butter and 1 sliced banana
chicken
Lunches (around 350 calories each)
CHOOSE ONE EACH DAY
Grilled salmon with salad
1 large grilled salmon fillet with mixed salad
Chicken and couscous salad
Salad made from 4tbsp cooked couscous, 1 grilled skinless chicken breast, cherry tomatoes, 1tbsp raisins, 1tsp oliveoil, lemon juice and black pepper
Vegetable soup
600ml carton fresh vegetable soup and 1 banana
Sweet potato with tuna salad
1 medium-sized baked sweet potato with 1 small can tuna in water and mixed salad. Plus 1 apple
Homemade guacamole made from 1 small avocado, 1 chopped tomato, garlic, lemon juice and Tabasco, with 1 wholemeal pitta and 1 carrot cut into sticks
1 medium size pack of sushi (around 250 calories) and 1 banana
Pitta stuffed with Mediterranean salad
1 wholemeal pitta filled with salad made from 1 small avocado, 1/2 red pepper, 1 small red onion and 1 tomato
600ml carton fresh butternut squash soup. Plus 1 apple and 1 orange
Warm salmon and poached egg salad
Salad made from baby spinach leaves, cherrytomatoes and cucumber topped with 1 small grilled salmon steak and 1 poached egg
Dinners (around 450 calories each)
CHOOSE ONE EACH DAY
Cashew nut and vegetable stir fry
Stir fry made from 1tbsp sunflower oil, garlic, ginger, 1 small pack ready-prepared stir-fry veg, 1tbsp reduced-salt soy sauce and 2tbsp toasted unsalted cashew nuts. Plus 1 satsuma
Turkey, pepper and tomato skewerswith couscous - Cut 1 turkey steak into bite-sized pieces and thread onto three skewers with cherry tomatoes and 1 green pepper, cut intopieces. Brush with olive oil and squeeze over some lime juice. Grill until cooked through and serve with 6tbsp cooked couscous made with chicken stock. Plus 1 apple
Steak supper - 1 small (150g) grilled fillet steak with 1 medium-sized sweet potato, cut into wedges, brushed with olive oil and baked in the oven, with 1 grilled tomato, grilled mushrooms and a green salad. Plus a handful of grapes
Spanish tortilla with salad - Fry 1/2 chopped small red onion and 1 sliced red pepper in 2tsp sunflower oil for a few minutes. Add 3 sliced boiled newpotatoes and cook for a few minutes. Add 3beaten eggs and cook until almostset. Place under a hot grill to set the top and serve with salad. Plus a handful of blueberries
Tuna steak with veg - 1 grilled tuna steak served with 3 boiled new potatoes in their skins, steamed carrots, broccoli, green beans and baby sweetcorn. Plus 1 bowl fruit salad and 1 pot fat-free fruit or soya yogurt
Mediterranean roasted vegetables and chicken- Chop 1 red pepper, 1/2 aubergine, 1 courgette and 1 small red onion into bite-sized chunks and roast with a handful of cherry tomatoes, fresh rosemary sprigs and 1tbsp olive oil. Serve with 1 roasted skinless chicken breast. Plus 1 pear
Smoked mackerel salad
1 ready-prepared smoked mackerel fillet with salad
Chicken fajitas with a twist -Fajitas made from 1tbsp sunflower oil, 1 red and green pepper, 1 small red onion, 1skinless chicken breast and fajita seasoning. Serve wrapped in large iceberg lettuce leaves, topped with 1/2 small diced avocado
Snacks (around 200 calories each)
CHOOSE ONE EACH DAY
Avocado dip with celery sticks
Dried fruit and nuts
2tbsp raisins and 5 Brazil nuts
1 small avocado mashed with garlic, lemon juice and Tabasco, served with celery sticks
Fruit salad and yogurt
1 bowl of fruit salad with 1 pot low-fat natural Greek or soya yogurt and 2tsp chopped mixed nuts
Almonds
30g unsalted almonds
Mixed fruit medley
1/2 pack blueberries, 1 apple, 1 satsuma, 1pear and a handful of grapes
Frozen grapes
3 large handfuls of frozen grapes and 1 small pot fat-free fruit or soya yogurt
Seeds
2tbsp unsalted pumpkin seeds
Smoked salmon salad
Large mixed salad topped with 4 slices smoked salmon. Plus 1 kiwi fruit
Red wine- 2 small glasses (125ml each) of red wine with a few gherkins and olives
Vodka and diet cola- 2 single measures (25ml) of vodka with diet cola plus 3tbsp reduced-fat hummus with carrot sticks.
Herbal Tea - Ive discovered a really nice Herbal Digestif by Conscious Food. its made using hand picked organic herbs and helps aid digestion. Beetroot - Im obsessed with beetroot at the moment, Ive been using it in my blender and having a shot in a morning and one in the afternoon if im feeling lethargic. Its really good for stamina, blood pressure and making your muscles work properly, but beware ..... it can be scary when you go to the loo ! Peanuts - One of my fav things is salted peanuts, but there not very good for you, so ive got an alternative, Get some almonds, rub a bit of coconut oil on them and then dip them in home made garlic salt, so tasty and a lot healthier Crystalized Coconut - Ive discovered organic crystallized coconut nectar by a brand called Tiana, which is a fab replacement for processed, refined sugar. And its much better than coconut sugar because it contains important nutrients Its a bit more expensive than your Tate & Lyle but if it means helping you keep the pounds off, than its worth every penny ! ICE CREAM TIP - Ive been making home made ice cream lately and instead of using double cream, ive been using coconut cream as a healthier alternative. I added some bananas and honey into the mixture and it tasted divine. Ive also heard that almond butter and pure peanut butter work well instead of cream, so im going to give that a whirl next time im making it DIET TIP - Ive recently found out that food labels could miss count calories by up to 25 percent, and that in the UK many nutrition labels fail to account for the calorific value of fibre i would advise people to stop counting calories completely and just focus on healthy eating and exercise. If i counted my calories, it'd probably be more than the required daily amount, but that doesn't mean i put on weight. Its not about how much you eat, but what you eat. HOMEMADE PROTEIN BARS - Ive recently discovered protein powder from Rawilcious, which i've been using to make protein bars. You mix together two scoops of it with a cup of organic porridge, some natural peanut butter from Holland & Barrett and 1 3/4 cups of Koko Dairy free milk, before shaping it into two bars and popping them in the fridge. Its basically a substitute for a chocolate bar, but the protein helps to build muscle, so its a healthy yet tasty snack. FIRM BUM - Ive been doing an exercise where I lie down on my side with my back against a wall then i raise my top knee as far as it'll go, with mu feet together and touching the wall. Then i raise my top knee as far as it'll go, with my feet together, Do this 20times on each side and repeat three times and you'll soon see the difference. FRUIT LOLLY - Ive discovered the best healthy snack for summer. Put some grapes on a barbecue
stick and pop them in the frezzer for a few hours.
Voila - your own homemade, healthy fruit lollipop!
PIZZA EXPRESS - They have got a new salad on
the menu its called Leggera Superfood Salad, which
includes spinish, butternut squash, beetroot, avocado
lentils and mozzarella Its less than 300 calories,
which is bloody great for such a tasty salad.
TEA - Ive discovered a tea that helps me curb my
cravings for sugar. Its a mix of liquorice and peppermint
by Teapigs and tastes like a bag of sweets. I have two
cups a day.
ALPHABET LEGS - My personal trainer James Stark,
taught me a new trick the other day and i love it he said
to lie down on the floor and write the alphabet in capital
letters with your legs. You put both legs together,
lift your bum slightly from the floor and keep your
arms by your sides. Ive been doing it twice a day
and i can really feel it working on my core and my bum
GYM SLACKING - ive been slacking a little so been
taking vitamin D supplements, as i found out it helps
speed up the fat burning process, ive also reduced
my caffeine intake because i noticed my skin was
looking like a dead persons - i was grey! So ive
started drinking green tea with lemon instead.
THIRSTY WORK - Ive been going to gym with a few
friends i much prefer going to gym with other people
i know because its a good motivation. We've been
concentrating on our legs, so we do lots of squats
and push - ups and use the kettle bells. Ive been
trying to drink more water as ive noticed more
crows' feet around my eyes in the last few weeks,
which means im dehydrated. So ive been drinking
at least 2.5 liters of water a day.
JUMPING JOISE- After putting on a few pounds
after a boozy blowout the other week, im back down
to 10st 2lbs after working out over for days in a row.
I know ive mentioned it befor, but skipping really is
a brilliant way of shaping up. Buy a ropw - you can
get one with a calorie count, which is great for
motivation, I did 40 minutes of the 30 second slim -
so i skipped for 30 seconds, then had a 10 -20 second
break and so on. Ive been doing it in the house. ENDORPHINS- If you're going to exercise, do so before brekky, It'll put you in a good mood for the day by getting the endorphins going and once you've worked out, you're less likely to have a stodgy breakfast.
As you know Josie is working on a new weight loss website these questions will be to gather data to help with the website. please share and like the posts and answer as many as you can a huge thanks for your support from Josie XX
