When 2020 got tough (and boy, did it!), Slimming World members got going. From lacing up their trainers to scaling Everest in their gardens (we’ll explain later), many slimmers spent the past 12 months discovering the health and wellbeing – not to mention weight loss-boosting – benefits Body Magic can bring.
David, pictured above, lost 9st 2lbs by Food Optimising and found a love for running along the way – and this year he started training to take part in the London Marathon!
We’ve pulled together some of the amazing activity achievements our members have celebrated this year, to kick-start your move-more motivation for 2021.
Jenny found… she could reach the top of the world, without leaving home
Jenny conquered our Body Magic activity challenge in style this summer, when she climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest using just the step outside her garage.
She said: “I usually like to walk for exercise, but I fancied taking on a new challenge. It worked out really well for me during lockdown, as being outdoors is good for my mental wellbeing. I loved listening to the birds while I was stepping, and I didn’t mind the variable weather conditions – I just wore my trusty waterproof.”
READ THE FULL STORY: How Jenny climbed the highest mountain
Natalie found… running could supercharge her weight loss
Primary school teacher Natalie has lost 5st 10lbs since joining Slimming World four years ago. This year, she kept moving towards her weight loss goals by downloading the Couch to 5K app, and she hasn’t looked back.
She said: “It definitely wasn’t easy to begin with. I could barely jog for a minute without struggling for breath. But, as the weeks progressed, so did my fitness levels – and the more I jogged, the more I enjoyed it. These days, I jog 5k three to four times a week!”
READ THE FULL STORY: How Natalie ran her way to a healthier body and mind
EXPERT TIP: How to set activity goals that stick
Jacquie Lavin, our head of research and scientific affairs, reveals the trick to smashing your Body Magic aims in 2021:
“If you want to become more active, it’s important to think about what success would mean for you and break down your journey into small, achievable steps. While the government recommends aiming for at least 150 minutes of activity per week, everyone is starting from a different point on the fitness pathway. Working on your own individual activity wins – not someone else’s – is key to making it a habit that you stick with for life. If 150 minutes seems like a long way off for you right now, try aiming for five minutes of moving and keep doing it until it becomes a habit. When you see mastering this as a success, it becomes much easier to take the next step towards your ultimate goal.”
Kim found… Body Magic is for everyone
One of the best things about Body Magic is that everyone can get involved, whatever your level of ability. For 30 years, Kim Hatton thought that her multiple sclerosis meant that she couldn’t enjoy exercise, until her Slimming World Consultant suggested she tried an NHS chair-based workout.
She said: “I was surprised by how much I could do, and by the end of the first session, I felt more energetic and upbeat than I had in a long time. I took things slowly, having days off when I felt too tired, but in under a month, I was doing three workouts a week and I’d received my bronze Body Magic award in group!”
READ THE FULL STORY: Kim reveals how she found her fitness fit
Kat found… a world of new activity ideas
Of course, Body Magic isn’t just for beginners – it can also help you take your fitness goals to a whole new level. When lockdown forced Kat to find new ways to enjoy activity, she found an unexpected passion for online workouts.
She said: “Because I was exercising on my own, I had the confidence to try classes that I’d never have dared attempt in public. I recently had a go at an online Dance Fit class, which was great fun. I still don’t think I’m a very good dancer – but that doesn’t matter so much when you’re in your living room with the blinds drawn!”
READ THE FULL STORY: Read Kat’s Body Magic diary
Rachel found… Body Magic could benefit her mental health
As well as helping to improve our physical health, raising our activity levels can give our emotional wellbeing a lift, too. Embarking on a running challenge to raise money for charity helped Rachel (@rachelfalcus_slimmingworld) ease her anxiety this year.
“Who would’ve thought I could run 60 miles in a month? Certainly not me four months ago (I couldn’t run for a bus!). I started with the fab Couch to 5K app and never looked back,” she says. “Whatever activity you decide to do – it can be anything that gets the heart rate going, even walking – it helps with our wellbeing, mental health, toning as we’re losing the weight and keeping the weight off when we get to target.”
READ THE FULL STORY: How cycling helped Lois through her son’s cancer treatment
Whether you’re a complete beginner or you’re looking for a fresh activity challenge, you’ll find all the support and encouragement you need to achieve your goals in your local group and on our digital service, Slimming World Online. When you add activity alongside Food Optimising, you’ll experience a weight loss boost that’ll help you smash your slimming goals for 2021.