n
Now you’ve decluttered (see page 15), let’s make
it even better and now – DEBUNK! Yes, it’s ‘DB-Day’
for those of us who are overweight.
Sometimes it feels like it’s not just your weight
that’s affecting your life, it’s more the weight of
the world’s opinion about your weight. (Stay with
me – all will become clear!) I know I can be a rambler,
my mind rambles and wanders all over the place,
especially when it comes to working out the best
solutions to help those of you who want to stay in
control of your weight. But sometimes, I think we
don’t say it loud enough or often enough. You do
not have to lose weight. It is your choice.
Yes, the dietitians, the (so-called) nutritionists,
the medics and the doctors who work in the NHS,
and our delightful government departments will
throw up their hands in horror at that statement.
On your behalf, dear readers, I risk being lynched,
hung, drawn and quartered. But thanks to my
unselfish nature (why is my husband clutching his
sides with laughter at this one?) it is incumbent upon
me to let you know that you don’t have to do it.
Providing you know the consequences of
not dedicating yourself to bringing your body
to a healthy condition which, I’m afraid, has to
mean your weight needs to be in a healthy weight
range. And providing you are genuinely OK with
taking those (difficult-to-ignore) health risks, and
providing you are OK with the stylish clothes
difficulties, then go for it.
The message from us at Slimming World is
not: ‘You ought to lose weight’. The Slimming World
message is: ‘If, and only if, you want to lose weight
for health, style or looks reasons, then we are
here for you’.
So, when you come to group, it is not our
intention, or plan, to persuade you to lose weight.
It is our intention, and our plan, to help you achieve
the dreams you told us you wanted to achieve, or
that we understood were what mattered to you. Ifyou have lost the desire – and let’s face it, without
that desire you won’t make it – then we are open
to receive you in the group, with no chats, no
questions, and no payments, to continue to feel
part of our little community. If one day you change
your mind, and that desire returns with bells on,
you know we’re here for you and all you need
to do is to simply rejoin, restart and let us do
what nobody does better.
We will continue to inform you through our
website, our social media pages, and my personal
social media pages, about the health risks. It is
our duty and responsibility to do so, in just the
same way I’m sure, you feel it is your responsibility
to do that for your family, your children and your
loved ones. And we love you. You have entrusted
a large part of your future health and happiness
to us and although we might have fun in the groups,
we take that responsibility very seriously, heart,
soul and mind.
But come on, it is TOGETHER that we achieve
these amazing results, and when your heart, soul
and mind are no longer with us, then we do understand
that you want to take a break or leave us forever.
It is not our job to persuade you to lose weight. It
is our job to help you achieve YOUR goals, YOUR
dreams and the life YOU want for yourself.
We are always here for you. We are always
willing to be the wind beneath your wings when,
and only when, YOU decide that’s what you want.Yours, as always,At Slimming World, we’ll never tell you to lose weight. If you
decide the journey’s right for you, we’ll help you find success
Margaret
Miles-Bramwell
OBE, HonMUniv,
FRSA, is Slimming
World’s founder
and chairYour dream,
your choice
98 SLIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE