“A heart attack waiting to happen”: mum of two loses 7st to save her life
Marking Heart Month this February, mum Marianna Demetriades shows the remarkable difference losing weight can make to your heart health
Around 1.4 million people alive in the UK today have survived a heart attack, while heart and circulatory diseases cause a quarter of all deaths in the UK – that’s more than 170,000 deaths each year[1]. Weight can be a major contributing factor in heart and circulatory diseases.
Mum of two Marianna Demetriades, 43, from Enfield, Middlesex, was told by her GP that she was a ‘heart attack waiting to happen’. She took those words seriously and joined her local Slimming World group that same week. It was a decision that’s changed her life as she’s gone on to lose 7st and never felt better.
She says: “In March 2022 weighing 17st 7lbs, I had the biggest wakeup call of my life. Having just turned 40, I was invited to attend an NHS health check-up. I knew the doctor was going to tell me I was overweight, yet I wasn’t ready for his diagnosis. I remember it so clearly, he said, “I need to be honest with you, if you don’t lose weight, you’re going to develop type 2 diabetes, thyroid problems and high cholesterol.” He went on to say that based on my weight and height – I'm 5ft 1in – I was a heart attack waiting to happen.”
The children’s play practitioner, who has been married to Paul for 18 years and has two children, Christopher, 17, and Anna-Maria, 14, adds: “It was such a shock. I joined Slimming World that same week – I’d been a member before, so I knew the plan worked.
“This time around I made sure to stay to the group each week. I found it fascinating to learn more about myself and my relationship with food, and I spoke more openly about it than I ever had. My Consultant Michelle’s in-depth support helped me unpick the psychological side of my food choices. I realised I was an emotional eater – if I was upset, I’d eat crisps, ice cream, pasties or sausage rolls. It was a breakthrough. I developed a new, empowering sense of being in control and I still love that I get to invest in myself for that time each week.”
From the moment Marianna walked into my group, I could see she was determined to make a change. It’s been such a pleasure to be part of her weight loss journey and see her turn her heart health around. She embraced Slimming World’s healthy eating plan and has become an invaluable part of our group, encouraging and inspiring other members. I’m so immensely proud of Marianna and all she has accomplished.
Marianna continues: “As my confidence began to grow, so did my interest in activity. I began by just walking around my neighbourhood for 10 minutes. 10 minutes passed…then another. I discovered all sorts of lovely sights I’d never even realised were on our doorstep! After that, there was no stopping me. I got up a little earlier each morning to squeeze in an online workout, and by the time I lost 3st (19kg), I was going to the gym at work up to three times a week.
“Losing weight has given me so much more confidence to be able to live the life I’m living now. I was so unhappy and scared for my health and joining a Slimming World group was the best decision I ever made. Nowadays – I feel happy, healthy and full of energy. When I went back to the doctor’s for a check-up, I was relieved when my GP said there were no signs of type 2 diabetes, no high cholesterol and I had a healthy heart.”
Eating more healthily and getting more active are known to improve heart health, yet we know changing habits that have formed over years – sometimes decades – isn’t easy and takes time. Our programme is built on a deep understanding of how people with a weight problem feel and our ethos is about losing weight without guilt or shame. This coupled with a healthy eating plan based on the science of energy density and satiety, which enables members to lose weight without feeling hungry, is a powerful combination. As Marianna’s described, the in-depth support and encouragement members get at our weekly Slimming World groups is what helps our members to make long term behaviour changes.
Marianna’s been so inspired by her weight loss journey that she’s trained as a Slimming World Consultant herself and now runs groups in Woodford Green, London.
Marianna Demetriades
Starting weight: 17st 5lbs (110.4kg)
Weight lost: 7st 1lb (44.9kg)
Current weight: 10st 4lbs (65.5kg)
Height: 5ft 1in
BEFORE
Breakfast: White toast with peanut butter or a bacon and egg fry up, cooked in oil
Lunch: Sandwiches made with white bread, mayonnaise and butter plus crisps or a supermarket meal deal
Dinner: Deep fried meatballs, roasts cooked with oil, a weekly Indian takeaway and kebabs
Snacks: crackers with butter, crisps, chocolate and cheese strings
AFTER
Breakfast: Healthy overnight oats with fat-free Greek yoghurt, berries and cinnamon, or an omelette or Slimming World cooked breakfast at the weekend
Lunch: Wholemeal pitta filled with skinless roast chicken, lettuce, tomato and cucumber
Dinner: Slimming World prawn stir-fry with noodles and lots of vegetables. Fruit salad for dessert
Snacks and drinks: Low fat fibre bar, water
