Real Success

If you’re thinking of joining Slimming World, don’t miss our letters below, where some of our members reveal just what it’s like to lose weight in a supportive, warm and fun environment! In groups this month:

• Kirstie’s enjoying a little bit of ‘me’ time
• Trevor’s feeling focused, fitter and healthier than ever
• A picture said a thousand words for Kimberly

And Charlie’s aiming to get back to his wedding day weight!

To find out more about this amazing organisation, start losing weight now at your
nearest group.

Kirstie’s little bit of ‘me’ time

I’ve only been with Slimming World for a little while but it’s changed a lot of things for me.

At the start of last year I was a very different person; I was slim and enjoyed myself like any 18 year old.  I ate what I wanted and drank as much as I liked, but things changed very fast!
I found out I was about to become a first time mum, this was a very big shock and changed things so much, as you can well imagine.

I didn’t have an easy pregnancy and eating was my way of not thinking about everything.  
I became very self aware and withdrawn, I felt very alone as most of my friends were out having fun. I felt like I didn’t fit in, my confidence soon disappeared and I became someone I didn’t recognise.

I’d sit at home and eat all the wrong things; I’d have at least 3 takeaways a week. It was a very hard time for me and I put on 5 stone while pregnant, but everyone said it would fall of after I had my baby.

Well now I’m the proud mum of a beautiful baby boy, born in November last year, but things weren’t as easy as everyone said. After having my little boy I seemed to gain more weight and I became very angry and found it hard to cope. I’d still eat the wrong things and my confidence didn’t return. I was angry with myself but didn’t believe that I could diet, I hated that word DIET!

My aunty suggested I went to Slimming World - at first I didn’t think it would work. I walked into group for the first time, met my Consultant and felt right at home. The next week I’d lost 5lbs and the smile on my face was ear to ear! I was amazed at all the brilliant food I could eat - I was never hungry! My confidence has now returned and Slimming World has made me realise I’m not alone and I can do it.

Going to group gives me that little bit of ‘me’ time and I love it. I’m still going and losing weight each week, it just gets better and better. I feel like me again and it’s thanks to Slimming World! 

From Kirstie Moorlen Steele

We’re so glad that you’ve got your confidence back Kirstie – and good luck with your weight loss! Did you know that as an expectant mum you can still go along to Slimming World groups and continue Food Optimising? Find out more here…

Not-so-ordinary Trevor!

My weight loss journey, wonderfully supported by my disabled wife Maggie, started on 3rd June 2009. I was overweight, with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, taking pills to reduce them. I was a 17½ inch collar size and a 42 inch waist, and knew I’d get even bigger by my 60th birthday in February 2010, unless I took control and did something about it.

I saw a poster in a shop window advertising my local Slimming World group and decided to give it a go. Ena my Consultant, and all of the Cheadle group in Staffordshire are so supportive. We’ve shared many a tale and listened with interest to everyone’s slimming journeys. A mix of recipes, advice and laughter really makes it a very pleasant social evening.

On 3rd February 2010 I reached my target, with a weight loss of 5st 2lbs. I no longer take any pills and my blood pressure and cholesterol are now normal. I have a neck size of 14½ inch and a waist size of 32 inches.

I gradually started Body Magic last year and built on it. Now I visit the gym 3 to 4 times a week and run 10 to 15 miles per week. Today I feel focused, fitter, healthier and most important, never hungry. In fact I eat more and better than at any time I can remember. It’s given me a new life on many levels. I’ve given myself the best 60th birthday present I could ever have, a new me. I’d say to others don’t just think about it, go for it. I’m just an ordinary guy so if I can do it, so can you. Enjoy!

From Trevor Davies

Well done Trevor, it’s great news to hear you’ve ditched the pills! Losing just 10% of your body weight - and keeping it off - starts to bring amazing health benefits – read more about them here…

Picture realisation spurred Kimberly on

I’ve always been a big girl. When I was growing up, I’d ask why I was bigger than other people and I was told it was puppy fat, and it would disappear as I got older. At school I was friends with everyone and as I’m a confident person I always made friends. As a teenager, I had boyfriends and always went out socially. One of the biggest issues for me was that I was in denial. I knew I was big but I felt that I was slimmer then I actually was. 

One of my biggest problems was that I could happily eat healthily for a week or so, but then I’d end up losing motivation because of the hours I worked and I’d buy junk food.

I really enjoyed Christmas 2009. I had two weeks off work and was looking forward to a relaxing break. Then I saw the pictures my Mum took over Christmas and I was disgusted. I saw something that I don’t see in the mirror. Whenever I took pictures I only kept the good ones. I could hide double chins and parts of my body I didn’t want to see. The pictures my Mum had were horrible; it makes me really upset still, and shocked. How could I not see what I looked like?

Family and friends were starting Slimming World and I’d always wanted to join too. I felt terrible about the pictures and the way I looked so I decided to go with them. I browsed Slimming World’s website to look at recipes and success stories. I was so excited to start.

I joined 4 weeks ago and have so far lost 1st 4½lbs. I’m 6lbs away from my Club 10, and I’m loving it. I feel so much healthier; I’m much happier and I can do things without feeling shy or ashamed.

It doesn’t feel like a diet at all - I even find myself giving other people tips and a lot of my friends have joined. Watch out, I may become a Consultant myself one day! I love my group, it’s great to see everyone smile and clap and giggle about our week. We all support each other and we don’t judge! It’s great and my Consultant Sue is amazing.

From Kimberly Dunn

If you, like Kimberly, are browsing the site for the first time, don’t miss our packed recipe archive to get a taste of the delicious dishes available with our Food Optimising plan…

Wedding day weight for Charlie

It all started in 1997, when I found myself in my local hospital with chest pains and being told I had angina. I had to leave my job, firstly because of my angina and also to look after my wife Carol who has MS. I’d been trying to do too much and I was burning the candle at both ends and it very nearly went out in the middle.

That was just the start; I’ve always been big but as I was quite active I never thought it was a problem. Then it got to a stage where my weight started to climb, and did it climb. After Carol and I went to our Goddaughter’s wedding I got a shock when I saw the photos. I knew I had to do something to lose weight. I did have some success and lost about 5 stones over the next couple of years. But it didn’t last and I drifted back into my old ways.

I have to go to my doctors every year for an angina check and on my visit in July 2009 I was in for a shock. My weight had crept up again and I was told that I wouldn’t see 65 if I carried on the way I was. I was scared that I didn’t have long left - who would look after my wife? Karen the district nurse told me that she could refer me to a slimming club, and suggested Slimming World as she had been a member and had successfully lost weight.

I was a little apprehensive before my first group, thinking it would be all women. But I turned up to the meeting in August 2009 and was made to feel very welcome by Eileen the Consultant and all the members of the group. And I wasn’t the only man there!

Since beginning to Food Optimise I’ve been eating lots of Free and Superfree foods. Thanks to my Syns I can still enjoy treats too.

At group on 17th February 2010 I stepped on the scales to find I’d lost 4½ stone. Boy did I feel good! Carol and I went out that night to our local MS branch meeting, and lots of our old friends told me how well I look, which makes me feel great!

My aim is to get to the weight I was on our wedding day – I’m half way there!

From Charlie Telling

And we’ll give you all the support you need to get there Charlie! At Slimming World we want you to be happy with your weight - not just now, but for life...