Bride-to-be Jennifer is ‘Miss Slinky’ and Slimming World magazine cover star after halving her body weight

Stunning Jennifer Ginley has already attracted more than 75,000 fans on social media with her remarkable transformation, which has seen her halve her body weight in just over a year. Now she’s hoping to inspire even more people after winning a national award for her weight loss and becoming the cover star of a top magazine.

The 26-year-old, whose Instagram followers have watched her lose 9st 9lbs and drop nine dress sizes, has been named Slimming World’s Miss Slinky 2017 and will grace the cover of the March/April 2017 issue of Slimming World magazine.

Her weight-loss journey began after Jennifer was forced to buy size-26 clothes for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to Florida with her family and was left devastated by the photos from the trip.

Jennifer, who lives with her mum Janet in Liverpool, says: “I’d been a fairly averaged-size child but I was a size 18 by the time I went to university in Manchester. Living away from home saw me gain even more weight and I was around 5st heavier when I graduated. I’d tried so many diets in the past, but all of them seemed to make food the enemy, so I never addressed my relationship with over-eating and nothing seemed to work for me.

“When I found myself buying size-26 clothes for the holiday I’d been looking forward to for so long, I knew something had to change. I had to ask for a seatbelt extender on the plane, I spent our time there having to ride on the adjusted seats for larger people and I was horrified when I saw the photos. One picture of me with the Little Mermaid – my favourite Disney character – actually made me gasp. I saw myself in a whole new light – I looked so unhealthy that I cried, wondering how and why I had done that to myself.”

Jennifer joined the Kirkby Slimming World group in May 2015 along with mum Janet and her sister Christine, and together they began following the Food Optimising healthy eating plan. She says: “We got such a warm welcome from everyone and I can honestly say that walking into that Slimming World group was without doubt the best thing I have ever done in my life. I’d been a Slimming World member before but this time it just clicked, I think because I just didn’t want to waste any more of my life being overweight and disliking myself for it.”

In fact, Jennifer, a Citizens Advice caseworker, says that the biggest change since her 9st 9lbs weight loss has been to her positive mentality: “Before I lost weight I had a massive lack of belief in myself and I feel like I wasted so many years with fake smiles that hid how unhappy I was. I was a serial failed-dieter and could never understand how I could achieve so much in other areas of my life, yet I couldn’t control what I ate. Finally taking control of my weight was such a huge turning point for me, both physically and mentally.

“My boyfriend Luke and I have been together for more than 11 years and I always used to discourage him from proposing because I couldn’t imagine myself as a bride being the size I was. I reached my target weight just over a year after joining Slimming World and just before Christmas Luke asked me to marry him! It was such an incredible feeling to be able to say ‘Yes!’ without even a second thought about my weight, and I can’t wait to go dress shopping.”

And it’s not just Jennifer who has benefitted from her amazing transformation, she’s already inspired lots of other people to embark on their own weight-loss journeys, too: “A really key part of my journey was keeping an online food diary so that I could chart my progress. From day one I posted my meals on my Instagram account and it really helped me to stay on track. Now I have over 75,000 followers! I still have to pinch myself when people call me an inspiration, or say that they’re going to start slimming because of me. My mum and sister have lost over 7st between them, so we’re always swapping ideas and cooking lovely Food Optimised meals for each other. The support of my friends and family and my Slimming World group, as well as the Instagram community, has been incredible.”

Since joining Slimming World Jennifer has a whole new approach to eating, swapping takeaways and convenience food for delicious, fresh and filling food. She says: “Before Slimming World I wouldn’t eat any breakfast or prepare any lunch or snacks for work, so I always found myself eating whatever I could lay my hands on – shop-bought sandwiches, packet noodles, chip shop meals. Now I prepare in advance so I’m ready for the day ahead – enjoying porridge and fruit for breakfast and taking tasty salads or homemade soup to work with me. My sister and I used to bond over eating really unhealthily – we would go out for indulgent meals, have takeaways together and eat junk food almost as a hobby. Now we cook and enjoy Slimming World feasts together and instead of having takeaways up to four times a week, we’ll make a lovely chicken stir-fry or homemade Bolognese. We’ve both changed our outlook on life and I think we’re closer now.”

Jennifer’s also rediscovered a love of exercise. She says: “About five years ago I used to dance regularly, but as I got bigger my joints would hurt and I’d get out of breath after just a short walk, so I gave it up. After I’d lost about 7st I felt brave enough to go back to my dance class and I absolutely love it now. I’ve also joined a gym.”

New bride-to-be Jennifer has dropped from 19st 4lbs to 9st 9lbs and from a dress size 24/26 to a 8/10. On top of hitting her weight-loss target, getting engaged and being named Miss Slinky 2017, Jennifer’s also ticking another ambition off her ultimate wish list – being the cover star of the March/April 2017 edition of Slimming World magazine. She says: “I honestly can’t believe all of the amazing things that have happened to me since I first walked through the doors of my Slimming World group.

“During my weight-loss journey, I’d visualise myself at target and on the cover of the magazine, inspiring other slimmers with my success. I even superimposed a photo of my face onto a magazine cover and stuck it on my bedroom wall! Recently, I’ve also had surgery to remove some loose skin on my tummy, which has given me an extra boost of confidence. I feel like I’m a butterfly, emerging from my cocoon. Best of all, I finally believe myself when I say ‘I am going to…’ across all aspects of my life. I might be half the size but I feel like I’m double the person now. I know I have the strength and the willpower to achieve anything I put my mind to, and that’s a really powerful feeling.”

VITAL STATS:

Name: Jennifer Ginley

Age: 26

Height: 5’5”/1.65m

Starting weight: 19st 4lbs/270lbs/122kg

Current weight: 9st 9lbs/135lbs/61kg

Weight loss: 9st 9lbs/135lbs/61kg

Starting dress size: 24/26

Current dress size: 8/10

Date joined Slimming World: May 5^th 2015

Group: Jennifer attends the Kirkby group run by Jackie Whewell

Before menu

Breakfast: Nothing

Mid-morning: Crisps and chocolate

Lunch: Shop-bought sandwiches, greasy café food, chip shop meals or packet noodles

Mid-afternoon: Fresh cream cakes and biscuits

Dinner: Chinese takeaway or frozen pizzas and oven chips, fizzy drinks

Evening: More crisps, white toast with butter

After menu

Breakfast: Porridge with lots of fresh fruit, baked oats with fruit or a Slimming World ‘fry’-up

Mid-morning: Fruit

Lunch: Homemade Slimming World-style crust-less quiche, homemade vegetable soup or a tuna sandwich in wholemeal bread

Mid-afternoon: Small bag of Cheetos crisps

Dinner: Chicken stir-fry, spaghetti bolognese, Diet cola chicken, Scouse (beef stew) or Pizza omelette with salad

Evening: Fresh fruit topped with quark, small chocolate bar

The March/April 2017 issue of Slimming World magazine is on sale in Slimming World groups from Monday 30^th January 2017 and on newsstands from Thursday 9^th February 2017. – ends –