A mother who lost so much weight she was “constantly freezing” was eventually cured by cold water therapy, she claims.
After losing 25 pounds, Nicola Hogg, 36, discovered that cold water baths helped regulate her body temperature after feeling so cold she was “shivering all the time”.
5
5
5
She had previously been unable to walk or play with her son after tipping the scales at 21 stone in September 2021.
Nicola had gained weight after years of gorging herself on up to 30 packets of salt and vinegar and several snacks a week – after her husband went to bed.
After reaching size 26, she contacted a private hospital in Turkey about a gastric surgery operation.
Four months after contacting the clinic, in October 2021, Nicola flew to Izmir, Turkey, with her husband Bryen Hogg, 36, a contracts manager, for the £3,600 procedure.
After successful surgery, she lost 11 stone in 12 months, however, her drastic weight loss left her “shaking all the time” and unable to keep warm.
In October 2022, she discovered cold water therapy after a recommendation from a friend.
She now weighs an impressive 10kg and is a svelte size 12.
The mother-of-one even takes an ice bath in the backyard, where she bathes every morning, in addition to regular cold showers.
Nicola, who works in marketing, from Fife, Scotland, said: “I was a secret emotional eater.
“I wouldn’t eat anything during the day and then I would eat at night after my husband went to bed.
“Chips were my biggest weakness, I ate a mega multipack a week, as well as takeaway food.
“When I became a mother to my son, I tried fad diets, but any weight I lost I would soon put it back on.
“At my heaviest, I couldn’t walk and I was heartbroken when I couldn’t play with my son.
“However, after I managed to lose weight, I was always cold because of my shrinking body.
“Being introduced to cold water therapy by a friend changed my life.
“I even take an ice bath in my backyard and always start the day with a morning swim.”
SECRET FOODS
Nicola, who is mother to nine-year-old Dainton Hogg, credits her difficult relationship with food to the loss of her mother at just 13 years old.
She said: “My pain triggered an unhealthy relationship with food.
“I used food as a reward for getting through each day and it soon became my drug.
“I ate in secret because I was ashamed and when I was in high school I wore a size 18 skirt.”
Nicola’s turbulent relationship with food continued into her twenties and worsened after the birth of her son in January 2015.
Desperate to lose weight, Nicola turned to yo-yo dieting with Slimming World, the 1:1 Diet and even tried hypnosis – but none of them had any long-term impact.
In September 2021 and weighing 7lbs, Nicola turned to weight loss surgery.
After a successful 45-minute surgery, she remained in hospital for a week before returning to the UK to continue her weight loss journey.
Losing weight saved me, but cold water therapy gave me the best life
Nicola Hogg
With a small stomach and only able to eat three small meals a day, Nicola lost a stone a month.
In September 2022, she was down to 10 pounds – which she managed to maintain – however, she found it impossible to regulate her body temperature.
Struggling to stay warm, Nicola found herself wearing up to three sweatshirts to stay warm, faced rising electricity bills and barely leaving the house.
Everything changed in October 2022, when she started attending yoga classes that included cold water treatments in her area of Fife, Nicola “instantly” noticed a difference in her body temperature.
It is widely accepted that cold water forces the body into “survival mode” by stimulating increased blood flow and circulation.
Nicola said: “I went off the deep end with ice baths.
“I noticed the benefits immediately and didn’t feel as cold – it was like magic.
“I loved the classes, but they were a little pricey, so getting my own hot tub was more economical and less time consuming.
“The ice has also helped my arthritis as my joints aren’t as inflamed – along with my weight loss, I can be the best mother for Dainton.
“We can go on long walks as a family and I can show my son what a healthy relationship with food looks like.
“Losing weight saved me, but cold water therapy has given me the best life.”
5
5
How to lose weight safely
Losing weight should be a long-term commitment to healthier living rather than any drastic measures.
Tips from the NHS – which can be adopted slowly – include:
- Stay active for 150 minutes a week – you can break this up into shorter sessions
- Aim to get 5 a day – 80g of fresh, tinned or frozen fruit or vegetables counts as 1 serving
- Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds, or 0.5 to 1 kg, per week
- Read food labels – products that are color coded greener than amber and red are often a healthier option
- Swap sugary drinks for water – if you don’t like the taste, add lemon or lime slices for flavor
- Reduce your consumption of foods high in sugar and fat – start by swapping sugary cereals for whole-grain alternatives
- Share your weight loss plan with someone you trust – they can help motivate you when you have a bad day
Read about:
- The five bases for fat loss
- The calorie formula for weight loss
- The Perfect Portion Sizes for Weight Loss Meals
- Sun Health 8-Week Weight Loss Starter Plan
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
