emphasised that I had to lose some weight before
the surgery to prove I was committed to making a
permanent lifestyle change. I took those pills for two
hellish months, and the side effects were awful. I felt
sick all the time, had an upset tummy, and even started
to lose my hair. Another thing that made me feel sick
was reading online about the surgery. The warnings
were clear – there was a risk I might not survive it.
I was terrified, imagining the worst, distraught that
I hadn’t realised how unhealthy I’d become.A new focus
The moment Adele announced her pregnancy, I knew
that if I was going to lose weight, I was going to do
it without that risk. And, as if by fate, the very next day
a leaflet for Slimming World fell through my letter
box. Three weeks in a row, I took a taxi to where the
group was being held, then told the driver to take me
home again. I was so scared that
everyone would judge me, I felt like
I was glued to the car seat. Each
time, I felt awful when I got home
again, wishing I’d been able to be
brave. So, the fourth time, I forced
myself to get out of the taxi, and
slowly made my way into the hall.
The Consultant, Dawn, greeted
me with a warm smile, and it all
came tumbling out. ‘I need your
help,’ I said. ‘If I don’t lose weight
I’m going to die.’ She took my arm
and gently led me into the group,
where I was met by a sea of smiling,
friendly faces. ‘We will help you –
first let’s have a cup of tea,’ Dawn
said. We took my tea over to the
new-member area, where she talked
me through the Food Optimising plan, showing me
how I could still enjoy my favourite foods like pasta,
potatoes and cheese. Even after the slimming pills
my doctor had prescribed, 27st 12lbs flashedFinding out I was going
to be an auntie inspired
me to slim my own way
I’d lost over
7st by the
time I got
married four
years later.
With my
mum, sister
and nephew,
Billy, beside
me, I felt
unstoppable!Winning
Slimming
World’s
Woman of
the Year
competition
was amazing.
I’m so proud
of myself
for changing
my futureBilly tells me how proud
he is of me, too – he’s
my number one fan!SLIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE 11life-changing loss
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