Janet is on the move
Janet Yates has changed her life through the revolutionary Marlborough on the Move programme.
Janet Yates used to watch life from a parking spot.
“I used to go fishing with my family and I’d sit in the truck and just watch them,” she said.
“I didn’t have the get up and go – so I’d sit in the truck and do nothing while they fished.”
But that was the old Janet – 112kg, inactive, insecure.
The new Janet is 15kg lighter and no longer sits in the passenger seat.
“Now when we go fishing I don’t wait in the vehicle anymore.”
Her transformation began with Marlborough on the Move’s Team Challenge.
“It’s changed my life completely,” she said.
“I’ve never lost weight before. I’ve struggled for years and years … it’s good seeing the scales go the other way.
“There has been no hard part.
“The weight’s gone. I found it’s easy and I aint putting it back on.
“When people see the results and ask me how I did it, I just tell them to get on the move.”
And people have started noticing.
“My grand daughter came up to her mother and said ‘boy, nanna’s lost a lot of weight’ and it felt really good to hear that.
“It felt like ‘wow’, that’s good.
“I feel happier. I get into clothes I’ve never got into before, that were in my wardrobe.
“People say ‘you’re looking good’ and you get a big headswell, and it makes me feel really proud of what I’ve done.
“It’s good to sit down now and not have your tummy sit on your knee.”
But dropping dress sizes is only part of the gain.
“The best thing is I’ve got my confidence back and I’m happy within myself,” she said.
“I used to worry about what other people would think.
“When they’d talk to me and I’d just sit there and not say nothing, now I talk back. It doesn’t worry me.
“It’s empowering.”
The team challenge works by putting people of similar fitness levels, body shapes and backgrounds together to work through a free10-week introduction fitness programme.
“Over the years I’ve tried all the other programmes, but they didn’t work,” she said.
“I think this worked because I was with other people doing it, which gave me more motivation.
“I came along and met these other women who had the same problem as me and it’s encouraging to know there’s someone else out there the same as you just trying to lose weight.”
As well as providing support, the group environment eliminates self-consciousness.
“When I first came along I was quiet,” she said.
“We had to go swimming, I came to the doors jumped in and that was that.”
She’s been going ever since and now trains at Stadium 2000 three times a week and has included activity in her every-day life.
“Now I go for walks, ride a bike, go to the gym, I just want to keep going, I enjoy it,” she said.
“I’ve even got a new bike.
“My family got it for my birthday – she’s a flash one.”
Besides the emotional gains and lifestyle change, the weight-loss had greatly improved her general health.
“I feel better, I do. Before I lost the weight, I was getting tired all the time and just couldn’t be bothered to do anything,” she said.
“I’ve got a bit of arthritis, but I reckon it’s because I’m carrying the weight – its coming good since I lost the weight.
“Before is started I couldn’t walk up the stairs and I had trouble riding a bike and different things.
“Now I sleep better and my blood pressure and cholesterol have improved.
“It’s amazing how all this is working.”
