Real Success

In this month’s letters, meet:

• Ben, who’s totally changed his life around
• Jo, who’s dropped 6 dress sizes
• Hannah, who’s got a happy & healthy baby Lily
• Julie, who’s able to carry more in her rucksack these days

And Leanne, with a new job, new figure and new confidence!

Ben’s totally turned his life around

In January this year I joined my local Slimming World group in Redcar. I was grossly overweight and was considered morbidly obese if you go by the BMI scale. I had severe depression that was crippling my everyday life. My life revolved around my small bedroom, apart from when I went out to go get food. I was a compulsive eater - it was the only thing in my life that made me happy. So when my mum and dad suggested I lose weight to help me get healthy, my heart sunk. I thought I was going to lose what I felt at the time was the best thing in my life - food.

I was petrified and embarrassed about going to group for the first time. I think one of my biggest fears was that it was going to be a stereotypical diet - a stick of celery and half of a tomato for lunch. However, after a bright welcoming chat from our group Consultant Sue, those fears were soon blown away.

I couldn’t believe the wide range of foods I could eat, and the biggest surprise was that I actually liked them as well. The first group went very well and I was surprised how welcoming everyone was even though I was my usual shy, retiring self. However after one week I was enjoying the food and got my first award, losing 8lbs in my first week.

Since then I’ve won over 40 awards and with each one I feel that buzz I got in the first week and it spurs me on to reach the next one. In nearly nine months I’ve lost over 10½ stones and with it I’ve gained a new lease of life. Before I never used to leave my room, now I’m never in the house as I always seem to have something planned. I’ve always been a big football fan and even though I used to play regularly, in the last three or four years I couldn’t even really consider going to a football match, never mind playing in one. Now my passion for playing the game has been re-invigorated and whether I have a bad or good game I’m just ecstatic and loving every moment of being out there.

One of the aspects I didn’t expect to get from joining Slimming World was a new passion for cooking. With the group and the website you learn so many new recipes, which I love to cook and tinker with - my favourite being the bacon cheese burgers.       

In nearly three quarters of a year I feel as though I’ve totally changed my life around. I’ve come out of my depression and I don’t consider myself to have an addiction to food now but an addiction to buying new clothes for the new and improved me!

From Ben Edditts

Jo’s half the woman she used to be!

I joined my local group in Watford after seeing a picture my daughter had drawn of me – I was a round blob with a round head and sticking out legs. It was a wonderful picture but my heart sank when I realised that that was just how she saw me, as a round blob!

I’d followed the Slimming World plan a few years ago without going to group but eventually my enthusiasm wained and any weight I’d lost soon piled back on again.

My mum had been attending our local group in Watford for many years and, being a target member, she inspired me to go. I joined in the middle of January 2008 and haven't looked back since. At my most recent weigh in I’d lost a total of 3st 5lbs and was awarded 'Slimming World group Woman of the Year 2008'. I was absolutely astounded and extremely honoured as I was told that all of the members of my group had unanimously voted for me as being the person that inspired them the most.

I was given a certificate which is proudly displayed on my wall at home and every time I look at it I realise just how far I’ve come. I’d never have thought back in January that I would have come so far in such a short space of time.

Many of my friends have tried diets where you totally replace foods with shakes and soups but every one who has lost quickly gained back the weight once they stopped. I’ve convinced many of those friends to now try Slimming World as they can see that a small lifestyle change can make a huge difference.

I’d never have come so far without the support of my Consultant, my group and most importantly, my mum. My aim is to lose another stone and a half and join her as a target member.

I now have a new lease of life. I have a lot more energy and enthusiasm. I no longer have to only shop in 'plus size' stores. I can wear the latest trends because it's now available in my size. Most importantly I now have confidence - I can walk into a room and if someone looks at me I no longer feel embarrassed. I can hold my head high and feel proud that after dropping 6 dress sizes I am almost half the woman I used to be!

Thank you Slimming World for literally changing my life.

From Jo Englefield

A truly happy & healthy pregnancy

I just had to write to you to tell you about how wonderful Slimming World has been for me.

I decided to join group in October last year after having had my third child. My weight loss at the beginning was great but then it tailed off and I couldn't understand why.  It transpired that I had fallen pregnant again with my fourth!

(continued above)

I decided I would carry on Food Optimising whilst pregnant to help me stay healthy. With all three of my last pregnancies I’d developed pre-eclampsia and was very badly swollen.

As this pregnancy progressed, I managed to lose 1½ stones and never even suffered with high blood pressure, let alone pre-eclampsia.  I gave birth to a very healthy girl six days early who weighed 9lb 6oz and have never felt better after having had a baby.

I went along to my group last night to be weighed for the first time after having Lily and was astonished to find that I’d lost another 1st 3lbs!

All I can say is a huge thank you to Faith my Consultant, all my friends at the group and Slimming World for helping me have a truly healthy and happy pregnancy.

From Hannah & Lily Miles

A rewarding walk for Julie

In January 1996 I underwent treatment for breast cancer and as a 10+ years survivor, I felt I wanted to give something back. I decided to do ‘The Macmillan Way' – a 290 mile walk from Boston in Lincolnshire to Abbotsbury in Dorset, with all sponsorship proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support.

I decided to join Slimming World beforehand as I was beginning to feel twinges in my knees when walking long distances and felt that losing weight would help. I also realised I’d be able to carry more in my rucksack! My springer spaniel, Dylan, was accompanying me so I had to be able to carry his luggage as well as my own!

I received my 1 stone award the week before I set off and was delighted. I continued going to group and have now received my 1½ stone award and am well on the way to my target which will mean I’ve lost 2 stones since joining.

The feeling of achievement as I came over the hill and looked down into Abbotsbury was amazing, as was sending £1,523 to Macmillan Cancer Support in sponsorship money. I'm not sure I could have done it if I hadn't lost the weight and gained all the health benefits that come with the Slimming World’s healthy eating plan.

From Julie Nicholls

New job, new figure, new confidence

My weight loss journey began in January 2006 at Debbie’s group in Hatfield. I had so many reasons for joining:

• I’ve always wanted to be able to go into a clothes shop without having to worry about what size they went up to.
• I wanted to be able to look forward to a night out instead of dreading what to wear
• And to enjoy having my picture taken rather then worrying how I’d look.
• I also wanted to help improve my asthma and have good general health. Becoming a member of Slimming World has helped me to achieve all of those.

I’d been a member of Slimming World before in 2001 and lost 1st 7lbs for my 18th birthday party. I started a new job in June 2002 and although I enjoyed it, it was an office job which meant I spent most of the day sitting at a desk and I found myself picking crisps and chocolate out of boredom. It didn’t help that we had a sandwich delivery man that came right to the door every day.

I’d always been overweight at school and was bigger than most people in my year; I was never bullied but would get the odd comment from boys. I used to make out that it never bothered me but deep down it did. I was known as the quiet cuddly one that was always smiling and laughing but I think that was just to hide the fact that I was unhappy. I found it hard to diet at school, especially when all my friends could eat what they wanted.

I met my boyfriend at work and we started going out in February 2003. I was still attending group at this time but found myself slipping back into old habits and soon stopped going to the group altogether. I didn’t worry about what I was eating or what size I was as I became content because I knew my partner loved me. Then in December 2004 Paul asked me to marry him. I said yes but by this time my confidence was at an all-time low and I was very self-conscious about my size.

I don’t know what gave me the final push to join Slimming World - I guess it was because I knew I couldn’t carry on the way I was. So in January 2006 I plucked up the courage and joined Debbie’s group. Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do but I knew it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

In my first week I lost 4lbs and I joined the gym. I love every part of Slimming World, from Food Optimising to attending group every week and receiving my shiny award stickers and certificates (which I laminate and put up on the wall). I’m a completely different person now, my confidence is sky high and I’m now able to go into any clothes shop and buy whatever I like as they always have my size.

My life has changed so much - not only have I lost 7 stones, it also gave me the confidence to get my new job. I’ve been there for a year now and it’s going great. My partner and I have also brought our first flat together which is going great too. I’m now a target member and still attend group regularly. I recently had a make-over and photo shoot done which I really enjoyed and I received some lovely photos. My partner and I have just got back from our holiday in Greece - it’s the first time I’ve been abroad since losing the weight and it was really great being able to wear skirts and shorts and not feel self-conscious. We have also set a date for our wedding and plan to get married in the summer of 2010. I feel like a new person and I owe it all to Slimming World. 

From Leanne Cooper