DEBBIE WEARS:
Above: Dress, Little
Mistress at ASOS.
Shoes, Debenhams.
Necklace, John
Lewis. Bracelet,
Primark
p: Bolero, Wallis.
Dress, Jolie Moi at
John Lewis. Shoes,
ASOS. Necklace,
John Lewis.
Bag, Topshop‘I’m in control
of my diabetes’
Debbie Chrich, , is a carer. She lives in Newthorpe,
Nottinghamshire, with her husband, Stephen,
and they have three grown-up children. Debbie
is ft ins tall and weighs st ½lbs, having lost
st ½lbs at April Ellis’s Slimming World group in
Eastwood, NottinghamshireM
y sister Miriam’s eyes brimmed with
tears. ‘Debbie, I’m so scared I’m going
to lose you,’ she said. Sitting in my living
room, I’d just told her how hard going to
the supermarket had become. Although I was driven
to the door and picked up at the same spot, I’d fall into
the car gasping after my journey around the aisles.
I’d been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in
September 2012. I managed the condition with daily
medication, and my doctor had advised me to lose
weight to reduce my risk of complications. Miriam
knew all this and was clearly worried, but I wasn’t
focused on my own health. My husband, Stephen,
who’d lived with Type 1 diabetes since he was 15, had
just had four toes amputated from his left foot. He
could no longer work and I needed to care for him.
At 20st 6lbs, I was finding everyday tasks almost
impossible. Now, my sister’s concern made me
think... What if I became too ill to look after Stephen?
Miriam was ready with an idea, though. She
suggested that if we joined Slimming World
together to lose weight for my daughter Nichola’s
upcoming wedding, it would also help me get
healthier for Stephen. So I went to group with her
each week, listened to inspiration from other
members, and embraced my least favourite task:
food shopping. Instead of putting my usual pork pies
and cream cakes in the trolley, I filled it with the
ingredients for recipes I liked the sound of:
Slimming World burgers, slow-cooker
chilli, spicy cauliflower rice... I’ll admit
I was surprised when the dishes tasted
as good as everyone said they would!
As the weight came off, I started taking
my cockapoo, Bailey, on longer walks.
Eventually, I was doing the three-mile round
trip to the supermarket on foot, and even
joining in with my grandchildren as they
played rounders – something I could never
do with my own kids. I had more than
enough energy to care for Stephen and
enjoyed the closeness that grew as we spent
time together. And, as my blood sugar
returned to normal, my doctor took me off
diabetes medication altogether.
Shortly before Nichola’s wedding, Miriam
came with me to choose a special outfit. I tried
on a fitted lace Jacques Vert dress and, as
I emerged from the changing room, my sister
gasped: ‘I’m so proud of you!’ I’ve dropped
eight dress sizes, I’m controlling my Type 2
diabetes, and I look and feel like a different
person. I have to say, I’m proud of me, too! SLIMMING WORLDREV1_Group success_BG.indd 18 15/11/2017 09: