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'I am happy with my weight now' 'I am happy with my weight now'
(1 day later)
By Jane Elliott BBC News, health reporterBy Jane Elliott BBC News, health reporter
Lizzie has now been awarded her goldLizzie has now been awarded her gold
For the first time in years teenager Lizzie Butler is happy with her body.For the first time in years teenager Lizzie Butler is happy with her body.
The 14-year-old has bought a gorgeous strappy red and gold dress for Christmas - her first UK size 14.The 14-year-old has bought a gorgeous strappy red and gold dress for Christmas - her first UK size 14.
From the age of eight she had been overweight, she over-ate and snacked on sweets and biscuits.From the age of eight she had been overweight, she over-ate and snacked on sweets and biscuits.
Last November she was an an overweight UK size 18, she did little exercise and was fed-up with her shape. Last November she was an overweight UK size 18, she did little exercise and was fed-up with her shape.
THE WATCH IT PROGRAMME Designed to help and support 8-16 year olds who have difficulty with their weightOn enrolement, trainer carries out a thorough assessmentOver the next few weeks, the family is guided through a step-by-step programme covering eating, nutrition, activity and emotional well-beingEach week, the family looks at ways to set targets, and make changes to achieve weight lossSpecial weekly activity sessions help increase fitness and other skillsThe programme has links with community groups and organises extra activities from time to time With her mother's support Lizzie joined the NHS Watch It programme, which was developed and pioneered in her home town of Leeds.THE WATCH IT PROGRAMME Designed to help and support 8-16 year olds who have difficulty with their weightOn enrolement, trainer carries out a thorough assessmentOver the next few weeks, the family is guided through a step-by-step programme covering eating, nutrition, activity and emotional well-beingEach week, the family looks at ways to set targets, and make changes to achieve weight lossSpecial weekly activity sessions help increase fitness and other skillsThe programme has links with community groups and organises extra activities from time to time With her mother's support Lizzie joined the NHS Watch It programme, which was developed and pioneered in her home town of Leeds.
It aims to motivate children, aged eight to 15, and their parents to lead healthier lifestyles by giving them individual and group help.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.Children and teenagers sign up for a year's programme concentrating on physical activity, nutrition and emotional wellbeing.
Now Lizzie has been given her gold award to recognise her encouraging progress.Now Lizzie has been given her gold award to recognise her encouraging progress.
She plans to continue to attend classes as she hopes to get down to her ultimate goal of size UK 10 - but she is delighted by her progress so far.She plans to continue to attend classes as she hopes to get down to her ultimate goal of size UK 10 - but she is delighted by her progress so far.
Real achievementReal achievement
"It was an achievement to get my first size 14," she said."It was an achievement to get my first size 14," she said.
"I went into a really expensive shop in Harrogate that only goes up to a size 14 and I tried on some clothes that fit me for the first time so I was really happy."I went into a really expensive shop in Harrogate that only goes up to a size 14 and I tried on some clothes that fit me for the first time so I was really happy.
Lizzie was an overweight size 18Lizzie was an overweight size 18
"Since January I have lost 9kg (19lbs) and 10cms off my waist."Since January I have lost 9kg (19lbs) and 10cms off my waist.
"I am 90 kgs (190lbs) and next month I want to be under that. In six months I would love to be a size 12.""I am 90 kgs (190lbs) and next month I want to be under that. In six months I would love to be a size 12."
But it has not been easy for Lizzie. Unfortunately a back operation she underwent in April stopped her exercising.But it has not been easy for Lizzie. Unfortunately a back operation she underwent in April stopped her exercising.
This meant she was unable to achieve her target of getting down to a UK size 10 within a year of starting on the programme.This meant she was unable to achieve her target of getting down to a UK size 10 within a year of starting on the programme.
And she admitted she had found sticking to her diet and exercise routine difficult.And she admitted she had found sticking to her diet and exercise routine difficult.
"When bad stuff happens and I feel down I want to eat the bad stuff," she said."When bad stuff happens and I feel down I want to eat the bad stuff," she said.
"I particularly miss eating crisps, I had to stop eating them because they were so addictive, but I am having a few over Christmas."I particularly miss eating crisps, I had to stop eating them because they were so addictive, but I am having a few over Christmas.
"I have been good really though as I have had downs, but I carried on with the programme.""I have been good really though as I have had downs, but I carried on with the programme."
Lizzie says she is now really starting to notice significant changes.Lizzie says she is now really starting to notice significant changes.
"I feel physically fitter than when I started. I now go to the gym and can go on the treadmill for longer," she said."I feel physically fitter than when I started. I now go to the gym and can go on the treadmill for longer," she said.
"Before I just could not be bothered to do exercise, but I do enjoy PE now at school."Before I just could not be bothered to do exercise, but I do enjoy PE now at school.
"I also hated getting dressed in front of everyone, but now I am fine about it."I also hated getting dressed in front of everyone, but now I am fine about it.
"Although you can't really see that I have lost much, I feel much happier in myself than I did at the beginning of the course."Although you can't really see that I have lost much, I feel much happier in myself than I did at the beginning of the course.
"I do still want to be a size 10 - give me another year. My mum says the longer it takes the better.""I do still want to be a size 10 - give me another year. My mum says the longer it takes the better."
Progress delaysProgress delays
Her mother Deanna said Lizzie's back problem had put her progress back considerably, but said her daughter had remained firm to her goals.Her mother Deanna said Lizzie's back problem had put her progress back considerably, but said her daughter had remained firm to her goals.
"It has been a hard slog, but she is back at the gym now," she said."It has been a hard slog, but she is back at the gym now," she said.
"She has got into her first size 14 so she is quite buoyed up. She is a lot more comfortable with her size."She has got into her first size 14 so she is quite buoyed up. She is a lot more comfortable with her size.
"She has not lost dramatic amounts of weight but it has got to a point where she is happy and that is the main thing."She has not lost dramatic amounts of weight but it has got to a point where she is happy and that is the main thing.
"Because I have always been such a 'yo yo' dieter myself I thought Lizzie would have to lose a lot of weight to be happy, but she is more confident now and thinks that maybe being a size 10/12 is not the be all and end all."Because I have always been such a 'yo yo' dieter myself I thought Lizzie would have to lose a lot of weight to be happy, but she is more confident now and thinks that maybe being a size 10/12 is not the be all and end all.
"She is definitely healthier and has more confidence."She is definitely healthier and has more confidence.
"I am very proud of her.""I am very proud of her."
Clare Wyke, Lizzie's trainer at Watch It, said that she had been very impressed by Lizzie's tenacity.Clare Wyke, Lizzie's trainer at Watch It, said that she had been very impressed by Lizzie's tenacity.
"She has been very much engaged throughout the whole programme," she said."She has been very much engaged throughout the whole programme," she said.
"She has had quite a tough year so has had to limit what she does."She has had quite a tough year so has had to limit what she does.
"For a while she was not allowed to do anything but gentle walking for a number of months which obviously meant she could not do the things she had started to such as going to the gym and the Watch it! activity sessions."For a while she was not allowed to do anything but gentle walking for a number of months which obviously meant she could not do the things she had started to such as going to the gym and the Watch it! activity sessions.
"But she has felt the programme has been helpful and has put quite a lot of changes into place regarding portion sixes and snacking so she has been very successful."But she has felt the programme has been helpful and has put quite a lot of changes into place regarding portion sixes and snacking so she has been very successful.
"For many young people struggling with their weight success is weight management, because it is very difficult to stop that snowball effect.""For many young people struggling with their weight success is weight management, because it is very difficult to stop that snowball effect."