'Surgery meant I missed diet goal'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7511886.stm

Version 0 of 1.

By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News

Lizzie has been too poorly to exerciseLizzie Butler is taking part in a year-long NHS course to try to lose weight. BBC News is following her progress.

Lizzie had a goal when she started her lifestyle changes; she wanted to be a size 10 and in a bikini by her holidays in July.

Unfortunately a back operation she underwent in April stopped her exercising, and the 14-year-old from Leeds has not reached her target.

But she is down to a size 12/14, and she has lost a total of 13 centimetres from areas including her hips and waist.

Needed surgery

Lizzie says she is determined to have reached her goal by the time she jets off to the Caribbean in October.

I don't know when I will be able to exercise again, but I am still being careful with my weight. I haven't put any weight on, I have just kept it level Lizzie Butler

"A cavity at the base of my spine became infected and I needed surgery. The wound was 15 centimetres long and they had to cut right down almost to the spine to take away all the infected tissue.

"I needed three weeks off school and even now I have been only able to go to school for half days," she said.

Lizzie said that although her wound is healing slowly, five centimetres remains open and so she can't do any exercise yet.

Lizzie is still shaping up

She expects it to be at least a month before she can go back to the gym.

"I don't know when I will be able to exercise again, but I am still being careful with my weight. I haven't put any weight on, I have just kept it level.

"People are still seeing a difference and the bones across my neck are becoming visible now."

Still shaping up

When she started in October she was an overweight UK size 18, she did little exercise and was fed-up with her shape.

From the age of eight she had been overweight, she over-ate and snacked on sweets and biscuits.

With her mother's support Lizzie joined 'Watch It!', which was developed and pioneered in her home town of Leeds.

Lizzie was an overweight size 18

It aims to motivate children, aged eight to 15, and their parents to lead healthier lifestyles by giving them individual and group help.

Children and teenagers sign up for a year's programme concentrating on physical activity, nutrition and emotional wellbeing.

Her mother Deanne said she was delighted Lizzie had persevered and stuck to her plans despite all her set-backs over the past few months.

She said her daughter was frustrated that she could not exercise and devastated that the family had to cancel their summer cruise, because she was too ill to travel.

"We can't risk going on holiday at the moment," she said.

"Poor Lizzie has been through the mill, but she has stuck at it.

"I think if she had been able to do the exercise we would be a lot further on than we are.

"But at least it has not put her back to the stage where she puts weight on and that kind of thing. I am pleased and 'Watch It!' are pleased. It will be about another month before she can exercise again.

"Her shape has changed and will change even more when she gets back into the exercise.

"She is wearing more figure hugging clothes. It could have put her back and she could have gone back to eating too many calories, but she hasn't," she said proudly.