Name: Lynsey
Age: 34
Start weight: 255lbs
End/Current weight: 184lbs

1 - Tell me about your previous dieting attempts. 

I think my dieting started around 20 years old with weight watchers, which I did on and off for a year. I lost weight, then gained it back - got sick of it, so I gave up. 

Then I moved on to Slimming World. I did Slimming World on and off for 8 years, and I lost the same stone and half, then regained it and then some over and over again. This cycle went on for too long. 

I tried herbal life but couldn't stick it, didn't like the shakes and having one meal a day was not for me.

Then I got a PT who advised me to eat 1200 calories. I lost two stones but ended up with gall stones (Added by Jason: This can happen following very rapid weight loss), which resulted in my gallbladder being removed. I regained two stones and a further stone as I clearly couldn't stick to 1200 7 days a week while exercising five days a week.

I wouldn't mention the chocolate bars or allow myself a "cheat day" every week where I would eat (binge) on all the "bad" foods I wouldn't allow myself during the week when trying to stick to 1200 calories.

This, of course, led to developing a very unhealthy relationship with food.

2 - What was it you hoped The Munro Method would do for you? 

First of all, I was hoping that The Munro Method would help me achieve my goal of losing weight for my wedding; I was at my wits end of what to do next. I didn't realise it would be so much more than that!

3 - How did you hear about us??

I think I came across Munro on Instagram and followed for a while before I plucked up the courage to join. 

4 - What was it about us that stood out from other available options? 

I had read testimonials (and now I am one!) and seen on your posts about disordered Slimming World could be and thought, "Yes, finally!! This makes sense, maybe this diet will work". 

Little did I know it wasn't a diet and that it would be a complete overhaul of my mindset and how I viewed eating and dieting.

5 - Did anything almost put you off coming to work with us? 

A part of me still felt like this was going to be like anything else I had done, that I would try it, and it wouldn't work; I mean, I had tried calorie counting before with little success.

6 - What made you bite the bullet and sign up? 

I knew I had to do something in January 2019, weighing in at just over 18 stone, planning a wedding in 2020. I didn't want to do SW or WW again, so I thought I'd give Munro a try for three months and see if it worked. 

7 - What did you enjoy most about being a Clan Munro member? 

I love the check-ins! They are so personal, and Jason really makes you think about why you might do something. Like really makes you think about yourself and your actions. 

8 - What have you been able to achieve since become a member of the Clan? 

I have such a better relationship with food; I understand how to lose fat and that I can do it when I do it properly and not some fad or kid myself on with only adding some foods into My Fitness Pal. 

Before, I would say, "Slimming World just doesn't work for me" or my favourite "I'm not eating enough to lose weight," but now I understand it all so much more. I have the tools to help me lose fat and not kid myself on.

I understand that I have to put the effort in 7 days a week and not just Mon-Thurs then have a weekend free for all.

But I've also learned that there will be times where fat loss won't be a priority, like meals out or social occasions, and that's ok too!

9 - What has exceeded your expectations since working with us? 

I knew I would feel fitter with losing weight, but I think running 5k non-stop was something for me. I hated running. At 18 stone, any form of cardio was hell - I don't love it, but I am so much better at it now. 

10 - Why would you recommend us to others? 

It really has helped improve my relationship with food and my weight. There is no ideal weight, and Munro encourages you to find a balanced lifestyle you can maintain. Not like Slimming World, where they hit you with your BMI or something, and it seems so unreachable.

I feel the Munro Method isn't a diet; it's a lifestyle change. Not only will it help you reach a weight you're happy with, but it will also teach you how to maintain that weight afterwards, which makes it so different from everything else out there.

11 - What advice would you give someone thinking about joining us? 

Just give it a go. All the fads, SW/WW etc. that didn't work - didn't work 'cause they are unrealistic lifestyle changes and being "on-plan" or attending groups for the rest of your life is no way to live.

Munro fits into your life, and if you give your best effort, no lying, no cheating yourself, you will see results. 

12 - How confident are you that you can now take everything you've learned during your time with us to go on and maintain the results you've achieved?

I'm not quite at the end of my journey; the difference now, though, is that I KNOW I'm going reach the end, whereas before, it always seemed so unreachable and far away. It's no longer an "if" it's a "when". 

And when I'm there, I know I will be able to maintain. I have the knowledge and tools, and I won't ever go back to being 18 stone again.

13 - is there anything else you'd like to say about your time with us?

If you had told me in Jan 2019 that I would be 13 stone for my wedding, have to get my dress altered by 10inches and not only that, but I would feel amazing. I would never have believed you. I dreaded getting my photo taken and how my fat arms would look, but wow, I felt a million dollars on my wedding day!

I don't hate what I see in the photos, quite the opposite, in fact!

That I've achieved this and know I can reach my goal is just amazing. I was one of those people who always thought diets just didn't work for me. But really, I was kidding myself on and only putting in part of the effort and having the weekend off, which doesn't work. Once I learned about nutrition, calories and how the body works through Munro - it has completely changed my outlook on eating.

It's not a diet; it's a lifestyle change. 

The fitness & health benefits are amazing as well. I enjoy feeling fitter and stronger. I enjoy not being out of breath when I walk up a hill. I used to walk a longer route home to stay on the flat - which is crazy, but I used to be so out of breath, but now the hill I was avoiding is no bother. 

As I've said, I'm not quite at my goal, but it's so much more reachable than it was before. And even now, It doesn't bother me how long it's going to take to get there, whereas in the past, I was always chasing the quick result, and it took me 13+ years to realise that was only going to take me farther away from where I was trying to get to, not closer to it.