Natalie is two stone lighter after 8 weeks
Estate agent and mum-of-two Natalie Susman thought she would always be a size 14. "I know that doesn't sound huge, " she says. "But at five foot two, that's a lot of bulk. I had reached the stage where I had just accepted it.
"Even though I was working out three or four times a week and eating what I thought was a healthy diet, I just thought I wasn't meant to be thin."
Last April, during a routine check with her doctor, Natalie, from Shenley, Hertfordshire, mentioned that she couldn't shift any weight. He suggested the GI Diet.
"I thought I might as well give it a try - the thing about GI is it is simple and sensible, so I had nothing to lose.
"I stuck religiously to low-GI foods for the first week - and to my amazement I lost six pounds."
Natalie had tried other diets in the past but she had never seen such great results.
"To everyone who has ever struggled to lose weight this is an annoying thing to say - but, yes, the weight dropped off easily. In eight weeks I lost two stone.
"I was overjoyed. The diet wasn't hard to follow and I could fit it in with family meals. After six months my skin looked better and I am bursting with energy.
"I've always had a J Lo bum, but now it's a smaller sexier version. And I've managed to get rid of my flabby arms. I wouldn't wear vest tops before because they'd be exposed, but now I'm happy to show them off.
"The transformation has been enormous. I lost the weight so quickly that people didn't recognise me - it's changed my life completely.
"The joy of buying a size 6 is better than any choccy biscuit!"
A follow-up Question and Answer article on Sunday, March 27, 2005 explained how Natalie was introduced to the low GI way of eating:
Q Your case study, Natalie, got a GI diet copy from her doctor. Could you possibly get a copy for me? Thanks.
A Natalie went to see a private doctor, Professor Farid, at the BUPA Hospital in Bushey, Herts, who wrote the diet sheet to help people with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). This makes it hard for you to lose weight, makes you spotty and tired all the time. Prof Farid referred Natalie to his dietician who told her that a low GI Diet was the healthiest way for her to lose weight and boost energy levels. As far as I know, NHS GPs don't provide low GI Diet plans.
Reproduced with permission from The Sunday Mirror. Picture curtesy of Sunday Mirror.