VERY WELL DONE LIZ!

Last month, we ran a corporate Fitbug challenge at Channel Four and Liz Dallas completely blew the competition away. After her impressive performance in the challenge, we dug a little deeper and learned that since joining Fitbug Liz has lost two stone and three dress sizes and gone from feeling down and out to being ready to take on the world.

The old adage says that you don’t get something for nothing, but fortunately for Liz Dallas she got even more than she bargained for when she received a free Fitbug just for taking a couple of minutes to fill in a questionnaire.

“I’ve had a weight problem since I was 17,” she explains. “I’ve been on just about every diet in the book and even though they have always worked for a while I have always put the weight back on.

“So when Channel 4 offered us a free Fitbug membership for taking part in a health survey, I thought it was something for nothing. I hoped that it might work for me and I decided to give it a go.

“I collected my Bug back in May but I didn’t even get round to touching it until August.”

As is so often the case, it was actually an occasion - in this case Liz’s 33rd birthday - that made her realise that she had to do something and pick up her Fitbug.

“It was a terrible day,” recalls Liz. “I just felt so miserable. I cried from the minute I got up until the end of the day.

“I thought my best days were over. I was 12 stone two pounds, which didn’t sit well on my five-foot-three frame. I felt really overweight and I wanted to hide away in the corner most of the time.

“I was supposed to be going to a family barbecue and I really didn’t want to go. I phoned my mum and she could tell straight away how miserable I was.

“That day I thought about the Fitbug and figured it was my last chance to do something about my weight and feel better about myself. I clipped my Bug onto my belt and I haven’t looked back.”

Despite previously finding exercise regimes a bit of a struggle, Liz developed an instant affinity with the Fitbug programme.

“I’ve been to the gym and exercise classes in the past but I always felt like I was being dragged there kicking and screaming and I hated it, but straight away this felt different.

“From week one I really went for it so when I was set my first target of 12,000 steps it was a real challenge - but I was determined to achieve it.

‘I was actually surprised by how easy it was to fit that many steps into my life . Of course there were a couple of days when I was really tired but I kept going and I am so glad that I did.”

Four months on, Liz now takes double that amount of steps each day, and is convinced that she has found a formula that works for her.

“Fitbug has just completely changed the way that I look at things. These days my car just sits on the drive and I probably use it once a week - when I go ice skating.

“I walk to the station each morning, but rather than going to Hackbridge, my nearest station, I walk to Mitchum Junction - so that’s already two miles.

“When I get to Victoria, I have a 12-13 minute walk to the office, but I have found a long way round and I stretch that out to 17 or 18 minutes.

“While I’m at the office, I know it’s important to give your eyes a break so I take two ten-minute breaks in the morning. I then spend the whole of my lunch break walking.

“I know some people would be horrified to think that I spend the whole hour walking but I like it and if I go out for lunch with my friends instead I really miss my walks.”

With so much daily activity, it’s no surprise to learn that Liz’s figure has undergone a dramatic transformation.

“My figure has changed so much that no one can believe that I haven’t been to the gym or done something dramatic.

“Back in August, I weighed just over 12 stone. My top half was a size 18-20 and I was a 16-18 on the bottom half; I’m now a well-proportioned size 12 all over.

“My mood has completely changed too. I used to get black depressions and feel upset and I felt that everything was going downhill.

“I thought I might have SAD and I was going to invest £200 in a light-box but it turns out that getting active and spending more time in the natural light has made all the difference.

“I feel so much more confident than I did before and I find that the little things don’t get me down any more. I used to shrink into the corner but now I feel like I can hold my own again.”

So what advice does November’s member of the month have for other members?

“You only get out what you put in,” she says. “So if you are serious about achieving results you won’t make excuses.

“If it’s raining take your umbrella, if you don’t feel safe walking in the dark, find a friend or a partner or a sibling or a dog to go with you.

“I have also learned that diets don’t work. Fitbug has taught me to take a healthy approach and really think about what I eat.

“I now feel that I am on the right path and I don’t think I will ever be overweight again. After 17 years of watching my weight, that is such a relief.”

If you think you could be our next member of the month - and receive a free Fitbug membership as your reward, tell us why.