Woman loses 52 kilos in one year

Through bigger portions and more frequent meals - but a more healthy choice of foods - Marisa Abela, 45, of San Gwann, has managed to shed a staggering 52 kilogrammes, becoming Malta's Slimming UK Slimmer of the Year for 2006.

Ms Abela, who was given the slimming club's award at the end of last month, had weighed 134 kilogrammes for about five years before changing her eating habits on May 17 last year.

She said in an interview that although her weight did not bother her, her father had long been begging her to lose weight for the sake of her health and to avoid problems as she got older. He even promised that if she did shed weight, he would pay for her to go on holiday abroad with her mother.

As soon as Ms Abela decided to go on a diet, her sister surprised her by booking the first five sessions of a slimming course for her, making it impossible for her to waver.

The course involves a weekly meeting during which nutritionist Valerie Portelli gives the slimmers individual attention on dealing with their weight issues. Members also provide support to one another when they need it.

To encourage her, her father sent her on the promised holiday with her mother only three months into the course.

On the flight to The Netherlands, the aircraft seatbelt did not fit round her waist and Marisa felt so ashamed she did not ask the stewardess for an extension. Although she was losing weight slowly but constantly, a visual difference could only be seen after she lost the first 20 kilogrammes.

Ms Abela believes she is now eating more than she used to but whereas she used to eat junk food, she is now eating healthily. She is certainly eating more frequently to keep her metabolism up. She has trained her stomach to a new way of eating - sure, she had her treats at Christmas and Easter, but returned to the healthy eating routine on the following Monday.

Last January, Ms Abela also included exercise into her daily timetable.

She has now shrunk in dress size from 28/30 to 16/18 and her ambition is to go down to 12/14. Her shoe size has also dropped. And she can now balance on high heels.

At 82 kilogrammes from her initial 134, she still needs to lose 13 to 15 kilogrammes. Since diet and exercise cannot remove her excess tummy skin, which has accumulated over many years, she will soon need surgical intervention, a "tummy tuck". That will take another five to six kilogrammes off her weight.

Ms Abela said that she now has enough confidence to know that she can keep the weight off.

Indeed, being smaller has given her back her self-confidence. "I have now regained enough confidence to be my character once again," she said with a smile.