please wait...
March Member of the Month - Claudette Parchment
Posted 17 February 2009
Claudette Parchment has control of her health, has lost weight, looks fantastic and is influencing her family to be healthier!
Fitbug: How did you find out about Fitbug?
Claudette: I work at NHS Redbridge and they started the program in November of 2008, but I really got serious in January 2009.
Fitbug: What made you join?
Claudette: Prior to joining Fitbug I knew I needed to do something. I didn’t know what Fitbug would do, but I thought it would help me to engage in some activity.
Fitbug: What did/do you hope to accomplish?
Claudette: I didn’t know. Initially it was a comparison to find out how many steps I was doing compared to the Government’s recommendation.
Fitbug: What’s your goal?
Claudette: Currently 9000 steps daily and 5800 aerobic.
Fitbug: What spurred you on?
Claudette: I first realised I had gained weight after my sister in law told me to step on the scale.
Fitbug: How much have you lost?
Claudette: 16 kilos!
Fitbug: What have you gained?
Claudette: I have so much more mental agility, which I value even more than any weight loss or fitness.
Fitbug: What was most helpful for you?
Claudette: The healthy competition is great for me, I quite like it, and it really spurs you on. I definitely want to remain in the top five especially with NHS Redbridge!
Fitbug: Why do you think Fitbug works?
Claudette: Fitbug looks at the whole situation of a person - not just food intake or activity, but at your whole lifestyle and how it’s linked to health. The questions asked are very important. Just being able to have a daily target is for me leading a dramatic change to my approach to how I manage my own health.
Fitbug: What do you enjoy most?
Claudette: Achieving my targets.
Fitbug: How has your life changed?
Claudette: My life has changed for the better! My mind is positive, I’ve lost weight and I've realized how influential I am to my family. My husband is now doing press-ups in the home and even though he’s Jamaican he’s not eating rice every day, (which is a big deal!) he’s eating fruits and veg. My eldest boy has started drinking water, my eldest daughter doesn’t need to lose weight, but is thinking about fitness, and my youngest, who is five, is my biggest supporter to help me be number one in the NHS ranking.
Also, my sister-in-law is changing the way she sees food, and my mum, encouraged by this approach, is looking at how she can see her diet differently.
Being Caribbean, it’s a big lifestyle change, certain foods are ingrained in how we eat. I’ve adapted my diet to eat what I’m used to but in a different way, I’ve brought that into my family and nice to see how my changes affect my family.
Fitbug: How do you feel?
Claudette: Very good! In fact, I haven’t felt this way since I’m 19, and I’m 37 now. Just being in control of my health is good - I have high blood pressure. I just want to do the best I can.
Fitbug: What are you most proud of?
Claudette: Consistency. How long I’ve kept it up, having this become my way of life. I’m now planning ahead, for example, I’m going to Jamaica at Christmas and I’m thinking about what I’ll eat in advance.
Fitbug: What’s your advice to other Fitbug members?
Claudette: Because there’s been a significant visual on me - you can see I’ve lost weight; people are very inclined to sign up. I’m now averaging about 14,000 steps a day. And I remember when (Fitbug team member) Donna, came to Redbridge and said her average was 11,000, I remember thinking I’ll never do that. But the way Fitbug sets your targets with gradual increases, you can. You just start off slow, build up and focus on your targets.
Claudette Before
Fitbug: How did you find out about Fitbug?
Claudette: I work at NHS Redbridge and they started the program in November of 2008, but I really got serious in January 2009.
Fitbug: What made you join?
Claudette: Prior to joining Fitbug I knew I needed to do something. I didn’t know what Fitbug would do, but I thought it would help me to engage in some activity.
Fitbug: What did/do you hope to accomplish?
Claudette: I didn’t know. Initially it was a comparison to find out how many steps I was doing compared to the Government’s recommendation.
Fitbug: What’s your goal?
Claudette: Currently 9000 steps daily and 5800 aerobic.
Fitbug: What spurred you on?
Claudette: I first realised I had gained weight after my sister in law told me to step on the scale.
Fitbug: How much have you lost?
Claudette: 16 kilos!
Fitbug: What have you gained?
Claudette: I have so much more mental agility, which I value even more than any weight loss or fitness.
Fitbug: What was most helpful for you?
Claudette: The healthy competition is great for me, I quite like it, and it really spurs you on. I definitely want to remain in the top five especially with NHS Redbridge!
Fitbug: Why do you think Fitbug works?
Claudette: Fitbug looks at the whole situation of a person - not just food intake or activity, but at your whole lifestyle and how it’s linked to health. The questions asked are very important. Just being able to have a daily target is for me leading a dramatic change to my approach to how I manage my own health.
Fitbug: What do you enjoy most?
Claudette: Achieving my targets.
Fitbug: How has your life changed?
Claudette: My life has changed for the better! My mind is positive, I’ve lost weight and I've realized how influential I am to my family. My husband is now doing press-ups in the home and even though he’s Jamaican he’s not eating rice every day, (which is a big deal!) he’s eating fruits and veg. My eldest boy has started drinking water, my eldest daughter doesn’t need to lose weight, but is thinking about fitness, and my youngest, who is five, is my biggest supporter to help me be number one in the NHS ranking.
Also, my sister-in-law is changing the way she sees food, and my mum, encouraged by this approach, is looking at how she can see her diet differently.
Being Caribbean, it’s a big lifestyle change, certain foods are ingrained in how we eat. I’ve adapted my diet to eat what I’m used to but in a different way, I’ve brought that into my family and nice to see how my changes affect my family.
Fitbug: How do you feel?
Claudette: Very good! In fact, I haven’t felt this way since I’m 19, and I’m 37 now. Just being in control of my health is good - I have high blood pressure. I just want to do the best I can.
Fitbug: What are you most proud of?
Claudette: Consistency. How long I’ve kept it up, having this become my way of life. I’m now planning ahead, for example, I’m going to Jamaica at Christmas and I’m thinking about what I’ll eat in advance.
Fitbug: What’s your advice to other Fitbug members?
Claudette: Because there’s been a significant visual on me - you can see I’ve lost weight; people are very inclined to sign up. I’m now averaging about 14,000 steps a day. And I remember when (Fitbug team member) Donna, came to Redbridge and said her average was 11,000, I remember thinking I’ll never do that. But the way Fitbug sets your targets with gradual increases, you can. You just start off slow, build up and focus on your targets.
Claudette After
As this month's star member Claudette receives a gorgeous Molton Brown gift set. If you'd like to feature as our member of the month - or if you know someone that deserves to -
Business
Healthcare & Schools
Personal Trainers
Keeping staff healthy is now a corporate objective.
Email this to my boss
Meet our fantastic Fitbug Weight Loss Challenge Winners!
See more
