A Carmarthen woman who starred in a health and fitness TV programme last year is urging people to put their names forward for the new series.
Annaly Jones’ life has been turned on its head after being selected to take part as one five leaders on S4C’s FFIT Cymru last April. Viewers followed Annaly’s progress closely as she managed to lose two stone in just seven weeks by following bespoke fitness and food plans provided by a team of experts from the show.
She has continued her progress since by eating healthily and limiting takeaways and snacks, swapping wine for lower calorie drinks on nights out and exercising regularly. Last September, she completed the Cardiff 10k run with two of her fellow leaders from the show, Matthew and David.
Prior to appearing on the show, the busy single mother struggled to find time to exercise and cook healthy meals, while working two jobs and raising her three sons.
Annaly said: “I used to try different diets – Weight Watchers, Slimming World, and I would reach a certain level and reward myself with a bottle of wine and a takeaway and after a while I would just go back to eating how I was before. I wasn’t doing any exercise either, I didn’t have the confidence to go the gym because the perception was that everyone was healthy and thin.
“I decided to enter FFIT Cymru because one of my friends had applied the year before, and looking back now, I’m so glad I did. It’s changed my life altogether, the way I think about food, exercise and about myself generally.
“I’m still not the size I want to be, I’d like to go down one more size, but I can go clothes shopping now knowing that the clothes look better on me than last year. I don’t stick to the diet completely and I don’t stop myself from having fun or having the odd takeaway. If I eat something that’s a bit naughty, I work it off in a different way, by making sure my other meals that day are healthy, or doing some exercise.
“I understand now which foods are healthy but also tasty. I’ve learnt to like myself too – I deserve to be happy and to be successful.”
Since the series ended last year, Annaly has also made a big change in her career, by moving to Nantgaredig to take over the lease of the Railway Hotel, with friend Melanie Phillips Rees. Annaly believes that her starring role in the TV series gave her the confidence boost she needed to make such a big decision.
“We took over on the first of October and it’s been brilliant,” she added. “We have some fantastic locals supporting us and there’s no mention of Dry January!
“It was a massive step for me to do FFIT Cymru, and it’s given me this ‘why not’ attitude. I’ve definitely rediscovered a lot of my self-confidence since then. When we were offered the lease of the pub, I thought, ‘why not?’. I think not trying at all is worse than trying something and failing.
“I’ve had a career change, I’ve moved house and I’ve carried on losing weight – I’m just happier in myself now.
“I could inspire just one person to go for it and apply for the show this year, I’d be so chuffed. It was an amazing experience, one that you only get to do once. I’m a bit jealous of the ones who get to do it this year to be honest!”
Add Comment