INTERVIEW: PUNTEHA VAN TERHEYDEN. PHOTOGRAPHS: LIZ MCAULAY. STYLING: RACHEL FANCONI HAIR & MAKE-UP: LIZ KITCHINER. FLOWER WALL: WITH THANKS TO WISHITEVENTS.COM. SEE P113 FOR STOCKISTSholiday to Majorca rolled around that
summer, I’d lost over 4st. I’d even had
to borrow some clothes from one of
my friends to take along, as I didn’t
have much that fitted. With a buffet
breakfast, lunch and dinner every day
at the hotel, it could have been easy
to go off track, but I didn’t want to
come home with more weight to lose.
So I made the best choices I could –
going for grilled meats and salads, with fruit for
dessert – and I enjoyed our trip more than any
holiday in years. So when I returned home to find
I’d lost 5½lbs, I broke into the broadest smile, and
everyone at group was thrilled for me.For a long time, I’d ruled myself out of any outdoor
activities, thinking I’d be judged. But now that I was
walking regularly, I’d started to realise how great
it felt to get my body moving. I wanted my kids to
know that feeling, too, and grow up as part of a lively,
energetic family, so Andy and I took the plunge
and got a Rottweiler puppy, Myla. I knew as she got
bigger, she’d need more exercise and longer walks,and I loved the idea of weekend strolls in the woods
and summers exploring on our bikes. In preparation,
I decided to ramp things up a little, and in September
2018 I took part in Sweatember, a 30-day exercise
challenge to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
Every day, I did an activity for at least half an hour,
and over the course of the month I tried badminton,
running, cycling, swimming, skipping, a trampoline-
based fitness class and workout DVDs – even
posting my progress on social media. Now more
confident that I could enjoy all sorts of activities,
I started taking the kids swimming and out to walk
Myla – whatever the weather! I was feeling so much
fitter and healthier, and at a check-up I’d received the
good news that my blood sugar levels were normal.
One day, as Kaycie pulled on her favourite wellies,
I slipped Archie into his baby sling and smiled as
I realised how different I felt from when Kaycie was
tiny. Now I couldn’t wait to get out in the fresh air,
and with Myla pulling excitedly on her lead, we
headed towards the woods. Watching Kaycie jump
and splash in the puddles, I realised we’d become
the energetic family I’d imagined, and it felt amazing.Not long after I got to target, my Slimming World
group voted me their Miss Slinky. They’d all been
brilliant, cheering me on throughout my journey,
and now they brought tears to my eyes by telling me
that I’d inspired them. Then, something even more
amazing happened – I found out I wasn’t just my
group’s Miss Slinky, but the winner of the national
competition! At group the following week, the young
woman sitting next to me turned and said, ‘I’m in the
same place you were – when I got married I hated
my wedding photos. I’ve been losing weight slowly
and I nearly gave up last week, but seeing you win
Miss Slinky has motivated me to keep going.’ I was
so touched to think that my story had kept someone
from giving up on their slimming journey, just as my
friends at group had helped and inspired me to carry
on. Soon after I was asked if I’d like to feature in
Slimming World Magazine! On the day of the shoot,
I felt a bit overwhelmed when I spotted the seemingly
endless rail of beautiful clothes I’d never have dared
to pick out myself. And I was puzzled when the stylist
handed me a pretty blue skirt and sequin crop top to
try – didn’t she know I’d had two babies? But I tried
it on anyway...and I absolutely loved it! As I slipped
into glamorous outfit after glamorous outfit, each
time I thought ‘this will never fit’, and each time
it did. Posing in a stunning red dress, with my
hair and make-up professionally done, I felt like
a celebrity as the photographer snapped away.I’m so camera confident now, I’ve even agreed to
model wedding dresses on a catwalk! Another
member at group, who has a wedding dress shop,
has asked me to help her show off her beautiful
gowns at a wedding fair, and I can’t wait to get out
there. Now that a white dress holds no fear for me,
Andy and I are planning to renew our vows on our
five-year anniversary in 2021. This time, we’ll get
a professional photographer to take all those couple
photos we never had, and I know they’ll be pictures
we can treasure for a lifetime. lHAYLEY WEARS
p24: Dress,
Goddiva. Shoes,
Bodyflirt at Bonprix.
Ring, Lark & Berry
p27: Top and skirt,
both Lace & Beads
at TFNC London.
Shoes, as before.
Earrings, Toolally.
Ring, Lola Rose.
Bangle, Peacocks
Above: Dress,
Kruszynska
Couture. Earrings,
New Look
28 SLIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE