Until a few years ago I was effortlessly slim, but then my weight started to rise. The reasons for my weight gain were classic ones, I needed hormone treatment, and soon after was made redundant and indulged in comfort eating. The combination of additional food – all high calorie items like chocolate, toast with lashings of butter – and less moving around, meant my weight climbed steadily until eight months ago I was forty pounds and three sizes overweight.

And the reason I decided to tackle this problem was also a classic one. I had been on holiday and was appalled by the photographs of myself we brought back. I looked fat, frumpy and older than my years. When I mentioned this to a friend she kindly loaned me a copy of Jane’s Weight Loss and New Workout book. I read the eating section that same day and was struck by how sensible the advice sounded. That evening I ordered my own copy of the book from Amazon, and began devising a healthy weight loss eating plan based on Jane’s advice. Two weeks later I had lost an encouraging three pounds.

This coincided with getting a new job. I had been taking some computer courses and the company I had studied with offered me employment as an IT tutor. To get to work entailed a forty minutes walk each way. (I could have caught a bus but by now had read the exercise component in the book and I re-read what Jane said about walking.) Back I went to Amazon and purchased a copy of Jane’s Walkout. Each day I would play the tape on my way to work, and do the stretches while the computers warmed up. Over the next month I lost another five pounds and I was also encouraged by the fact that I had more energy.

As they say, success breeds success. I was motivated to keep going. I had by this time found this website and I looked at which Workouts were recommended for beginners. Again from Amazon, I purchased the Easy Going Workout and the Low Impact Aerobics Workout, and alternated them six days a week, taking Sundays off. Four months after I decided to tackle my surplus weight, I had lost twenty pounds. I was also healthier and felt better about myself.

By this time I felt ready to tackle the New Workout, and purchased this. It has become my favorite Workout, and I did the beginners workout about four times a week. On the other days I did an aerobics class, also purchasing the Low Impact and Stretch Workout to add variety. Along with the regular walking, I was getting plenty of exercise and still following Jane’s eating advice, and the weight steadily went down. I was losing about five pounds every four weeks.

The day I weighed myself a few weeks ago and saw on the scales that I had lost all forty pounds was a very happy one. I went shopping and treated myself to some new clothes (trying them on was a pleasure instead of the ordeal it was when I was forty pounds too heavy) and also some new make-up. And I purchased the Complete Workout, as I intend to continue to build my collection of Workouts and keep exercising.

Apart from the weight loss, there have been other improvements to my body and lifestyle. My body is more toned, especially my abs, and my skin is in better condition. I am also amazed at how much more flexible I have become, notably my hamstrings. I am much more active than I used to be and I sleep better. I enjoy my food more, and will continue to follow Jane’s eating plan, I have added more complex carbohydrates to my daily meals so I do not lose any more weight.

The most important benefit, however, is not one you can see, but it is Jane’s primary objective in sharing her eating and exercise regime. I am more healthy than when I started tackling my weight problem. And being healthy is priceless.