Being a loser makes a winner!

Being the best at losing wouldn’t normally help you to scoop an award – yet one member from each of the Melksham Slimming World groups has been crowned ‘Greatest Loser’ 2018 with all winners in the five Melksham groups totalling a weight loss of 840 lbs (69 stone).

The Greatest Loser of all the groups, Emily Clark, has lost a life-changing 8st 4lbs to take the title and feels fabulous as a result.

Emily who’s gone from nearly 20 and a half stone to 12st says, “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a loser when it feels this good! I feel like a new woman since losing weight – my lifestyle is very different when it comes to meals, having been someone who enjoyed the convenience of takeaways and high calorie snacks like crisps and chocolate. It’s great to know nothing is banned, but its learning about the healthier choices and everything in moderation. It’s the change on the inside that’s been the greatest – I’m happier, healthier and much more confident now.”

The proud 32-year-old who joined the Forest and Sandridge Group, after gaining weight during her second pregnancy says, “My weight impacted on so many aspects of my life, having high blood pressure was a huge concern but also being around to be a mum to my children and extending my life was a big factor in wanting to lose the weight.”

Emily’s weight was putting a massive strain on her health as people who are severely overweight, with a BMI above 30, are more likely to suffer from health problems like coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes and cancer and obesity is linked to a reduction in life expectancy of between seven and nine years.

“I walked through the doors of Slimming World two years ago and since then I’ve made so many friends at the group and I honestly don’t think I could have done it without their support each week. They helped me with ideas and tips and if I was ever struggling, they were always there to remind me why I’d wanted to lose weight in the first place and how far I’d come since first stepping through the doors.”

Emily followed the club’s Food Optimising eating plan. “I still enjoy all my favourite meals like cannelloni and sweet and sour chicken, but have learned how to make small changes like using lean meat or cooking with low calorie spray instead of oil or butter.

“The Slimming World doner kebab is my absolute favourite! The plan fits in well with the rest of my family and we can all eat the same meals. I know that I haven’t ‘gone on a ‘diet’, this is a change that I’ve made for life and have the tools I need to keep it up forever.”

Tracy who runs the Forest and Sandridge Slimming World group says, “The changes we’ve seen in Emily are incredible. I hope her success will inspire other people in the local area who’d like to lose weight by forming new lifestyle habits and become happier and healthier, to take action. There’s a warm welcome waiting at Slimming World and just think, if you start today, you could feel like a completely new person just like Emily”

There are Slimming World groups held Monday to Friday every week in Melksham Please visit   slimmingworld.co.uk to find your nearest groups.