“At 45, I’m fitter than I’ve ever been!”

Tina, 45, first started gaining weight after she left school and stopped playing netball and swimming due to a dislocated knee. As she got older, Tina’s weight continued to creep up. She says: “During this time, I wanted to become a paramedic, but I failed a fitness test which caused my confidence to plummet and my fitness levels to drop even more. I had given up on being the sport-loving person I was before my injury.

“I had my first child when I was 21 and after my daughter was born, I realised I had gained 4st since leaving school. I knew I wanted to get fit and active again but didn’t know how.”

At an all-time low, Tina knew something needed to change. She says: “I had very low confidence. I hid away, hated dressing up and socialising, and felt depressed most of the time. I was due to attend a wedding and really struggled to find a dress that I wanted to wear in my size – I was around a size 18. It was at this point I vowed to lose weight. Joining Slimming World is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and it’s transformed my life.”

Tina followed Slimming World’s Food Optimising healthy eating plan and loved that the flexible plan gave her the knowledge and skills she’d so desperately wanted to make changes to the way she ate and improve her understanding of her relationship with food. She says: “I’ve taken back control – I used to live on high sugar cereals, takeaways, and chocolate, nowadays I love to cook from scratch and enjoy family-favourite dinners such as homemade chilli con carne, curries and pasta dishes.”

As Tina lost weight and grew in confidence, she decided to explore Slimming World’s Body Magic physical activity support programme, which helps members to embrace active habits. The programme recognises a wide range of activities, to suit all ability levels and budgets, and supports members to increase activity from their own individual starting point and at their own pace.

Tina says: “I was a little anxious at first, but I started the Couch to 5k app after hearing about Body Magic. I slowly built up running until it became more than just a habit. I loved it and soon found I was hitting the pavements six days a week!

“Since then, I’ve completed two sprint triathlons, an Olympic triathlon and I ran the London Marathon as part of the Slimming World team in April 2023 which was a dream come true. I realised the key is finding an activity you enjoy – then it doesn’t feel like a chore. I can’t wait to get my trainers on these days. It’s been brilliant for my mental health too.”

It’s been more than 10 years since Tina joined her first Slimming World group and she admits she was surprised by the support, motivation and kindness she found there. She says: “My group was invaluable to me. Without the care and support from my Consultant and fellow members, I honestly don’t believe I would have been able to lose weight. Because of this, I decided to become a Slimming World Consultant myself – I wanted to give back and help others, just like I had been helped. It’s a brilliant role – so flexible and incredibly rewarding.

“When I found out Slimming World was sponsoring Cancer Research UK’s (CRUK) Race for Life 2023, I jumped at the opportunity to sign up as I lost both of my grandfathers to cancer, so it was a great chance for me to support a wonderful cause.

“I didn’t do the race alone though as members from my group also took part. It’s been amazing to see them training for the race and to share something I love with them, as well as support them on their own journey to becoming more active. When I cross the finish line, I will be reflecting on my own weight loss journey and how far I have come – from being pretty much physically inactive, to inspiring others to move more.”