Slimming World MayJune 2019

INTERVIEW: MICHELLE RAWLINS. PHOTOGRAPHS: ANGELA SPAIN. STYLING: RACHEL FANCONI HAIR & MAKE-UP: LIZZIE COURT. SEE P113 FOR STOCKISTS

up on the scales. I had a long way to go, but I was

determined to give it my best shot!

As soon as I got home, though, my confidence

waned. And despite following the plan carefully –

filling up on home-made Slimming World meals,

including lean burgers, chilli beef stir-fry and diet

cola chicken – I didn’t hold out much hope. ‘I can’t

have lost much,’ I thought, as I nervously stepped

onto the scales, not daring to look at the number. As

Dawn paused, my heart sank. ‘I’ve failed yet again,’

I thought. Dawn put her arm around me as I stepped

off the scales. ‘You’ve lost 12lbs,’ she whispered in my

ear. I was delighted with my loss, and decided then that

I was going to put everything into Food Optimising.

My size wasn’t the only thing that was decreasing.

Within a couple of months, the pain I’d suffered in

my joints for years had already started to subside.

Gradually, I realised I didn’t need both crutches,

and started using a walking stick. And after six

months, I was walking independently for the first

time in years. After losing over 6st, I decided to try

swimming, as I’d been told it

was kinder to your joints. I was

still very self-conscious, so

I rang the local hotel pool to ask

when their quietest time was, and went along then.

I covered my costume with a towel and a T-shirt on

the walk from the changing rooms to the pool, then

got into the water as quickly as I could and started

swimming. After slowly doing about 10 lengths, I dried

myself off and went home, resolving that I’d be back

the following week. It felt slightly easier each time and

about six months later I completed the Aspire Channel

Swim, which involved swimming 22 miles – the

equivalent of the English Channel – over a period of

12 weeks, raising £250 for a spinal-cord injury charity.

Learning to love myself

By the time Adele gave birth to my nephew, Billy, I’d

already lost 7st. I bought him a musical baby chair

and when he was old enough to sit in it, I sat beside

him on the floor – and I knew I could get back up

again! Then, in June 2013, I moved to Hartlepool.

Dawn’s group was too far away and the thought of

joining a new one was too daunting, so I stopped

attending – and the weight started to creep back up.

One night, as I lay in the bath, I felt

my skin touching both sides – just

as it had before I’d lost weight.

That was the moment I realised

I needed support, so I put my

fears aside and joined a group

near my new home, and my

weight began to fall. In time,

I moved house again and the

first thing I did was find a local

Slimming World group.

After I’d lost nearly 10st, I went

to see my GP about my excess

skin. He was amazed at how much

weight I’d lost, but said that under

hospital guidelines, I needed

to be 10st 12lbs before I could be

eligible for surgery. With lots of

support from my new Consultant,

Vickie, I gave my absolute all to

Food Optimising and Body Magic.

And, in July 2018, that number finally flashed up on

the scales. I hugged Vickie as though I’d never let go!

Then, I went for a consultation for the surgery

and my bubble was burst. The surgeon said that, due

to damaged veins in my legs, skin removal surgery

would be too risky for me. I was devastated and

found myself in that dark tunnel once more. I started

having counselling and, with the help of my therapist

and the ongoing support from Vickie, who I call my

angel because she’s always looking out for me,

NOW I’ve

finally found

a way to stay

slim while

enjoying

healthy and

filling food

Since losing weight, I’ve learnt to love and

appreciate my body in a whole new way

”

“

12 SLIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE