Weighing more than 20st (127kg) left me in pain, both physically and emotionally. I found it difficult to do even the simplest of tasks, and I was deeply ashamed of my size. I lived in baggy cardigans and leggings to hide myself – wearing a dress felt out of the question!
Before I joined Slimming World, I was prescribed weight loss tablets, and then decided to pay privately for weight loss injections. Neither worked – instead, they left me feeling dizzy and sick, with stomach cramps. I paid £250 a month for three months of injections, and only lost 3lbs. My doctor kept suggesting gastric band surgery, but I like my food too much to do something so restrictive. Knowing how many times I’d tried and failed to lose weight meant that my confidence was on the floor. I wanted – and needed – to take back control.
A stark reality
The big wake-up call was when my two-year-old daughter ran away from me towards a busy road. I was so overweight and unfit that I knew I’d never be able to stop her – if it wasn’t for my dad and husband, she could’ve been injured. That was my final straw. Thankfully, this time my doctor suggested I try Slimming World on a 12-week referral programme*.
The moment it clicked
I’d thought I was destined to struggle with my weight for the rest of my life, but that feeling started to change within minutes of joining Slimming World. At that first group, I knew my pause button had switched to play! I felt welcome immediately, and there was no judgement whatsoever.
Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, has changed my relationship with food. I make healthier versions of all my favourite dishes, and it’s easy to adapt our family meals, so we can all eat the same thing. I’m never hungry!
As well as discovering the real food I could eat with my family, in group I’ve also learnt strategies to help me overcome any challenges along the way. I’ve gained a belief in myself that I haven’t felt for years. The accountability of the weekly group has been important for me, and with the encouragement of my Consultant, Liz, and the other members, I’ve been able to stay committed week after week.
Discover what happens in a Slimming World group
I’ve also been supported through Slimming World’s Body Magic programme to increase my activity levels at my own pace. I was pretty inactive before, and now I’m a regular at the gym.
The difference it’s making
I’m still on my weight loss journey, but I’m so much more confident already. I’ve lost 6st and gone from a size 22 to a size 14 – and I’m still going! My Slimming World Consultant, Liz, helps me stay motivated and supports me through all the ups and downs. The Slimming World app is great, too – I use it every day. Tracking my food and planning my meals in advance works well for me, and the app inspires me with recipes, too. I also love reading the stories of other real Slimming World members.
I’d tried to lose weight on my own before and always failed. I now realise that being part of Liz’s group has been crucial to my success. I saw the real results that other members were achieving, and that gave me hope that I could do the same. Having the support, understanding and friendship of others who know what I’m going through is amazing, and the belief Liz has in me is like nothing I’ve felt before – joining group felt like I’d come home!
And the best bit is that there’s no feeling of restriction or missing out with Slimming World. I enjoy every single day and every single meal! Slimming World has changed my life for the better and improved my health, and I know it’s given me extra healthy years to spend with my children (and hopefully grandchildren one day!). I feel like I’ve found myself again.
Many Slimming World members switch from uncertain to confident – in just one session!
In a study*** of more than 7,000 new Slimming World members, 69% said that they didn’t dare to dream that they could lose weight and stay slim. However, after just one Slimming World group session, almost every new member left filled with self-belief, confidence and determination – with 96% believing that they could lose weight and keep it off for good.
Charlotte’s day on a plate
Before | After | |
|---|---|---|
Breakfast | All-butter croissant or white toast with butter. | Overnight oats made with fruit and fat-free yogurt. |
Lunch | Full-fat sausage and chips. | Salad and jacket potato, tuna pasta salad or an omelette. |
Dinner | Takeaway, a lasagne ready meal or curry made from a jar of sauce with poppadoms and a naan. | Slimming World roast chicken dinner, vegetables and golden roast potatoes (leftovers will go in a salad or with rice and veggies the next day). |
Snacks | Chocolate bar or biscuits. | Blueberries, Hi-fi bars, apples and oranges. |
Drinks | Full-fat milky coffee or a sachet latte. | Coffee with oat milk, water or low-calorie mango drink. |
*Slimming World on Referral (SWOR) is a partnership scheme with the NHS which grants those who are overweight or living with obesity access to a 12-week weight loss plan with Slimming World. It’s available in 42 areas across the UK.
**Terms and conditions apply. See www.slimmingworld.co.uk/offers for more information.
***Between 2nd and 31st January 2024, 7,106 Slimming World members who joined their local group that week completed an online survey asking for feedback about their experience.
Weight loss will vary according to your individual circumstances and how much weight you have to lose.