USUALLY someone might be offended to be called a loser, but members of Bowerhill Slimming World group’s Greatest Loser 2014 are shouting from the tree tops because they’ve now lost a fantastic 12 stone 1lb between them.
The super slimmers bagged the prize, which was awarded to the member who has lost the most weight in their group, and both members agree the weight loss has changed their lives.
Nicola Wilkes and Lorna Halstead both attend the two Bowerhill groups, which are run by Sapphire and Diamond award winning consultant Kim Heath. Lorna is proud to win the award in the 7.30pm group and said, “Receiving this will inspire me to continue my journey.
“You are never hungry at Slimming World; I eat huge healthy meals with my family and friends and the pounds fall off. If I have a bad week that’s OK, we work it out. You are encouraged to look at your journey in bite sized chunks, so it never feels daunting, and staying to group ‘image therapy’ each week gave the support I needed every week to keep going.”
Lorna, who joined on 11th February 2013 and took 56 weeks to lose six stone 1½ pounds, taking her to her target weight on the same night as winning Greatest Loser 2014.
She said, “I feel like a new woman since losing weight – in fact, I look so different that people who I haven’t seen for a while often can’t believe I’m the same person. But for me it’s the change on the inside that’s been the biggest – I’m happier, healthier and lots more confident now.
“Before I lost the weight I always tried to shrink into the background and avoid drawing attention to myself. I’d pretend it didn’t bother me that I was bigger than most other people, but that was far from the truth. I hated shopping for clothes and found doing normal everyday tasks would leave me tired and out of breath.”
Nicola’s weight was also putting a huge strain on her health. Having six children and young ones still at home she wanted to make sure she was fit and active to enjoy her family.
“Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things we’ve ever done,” said Lorna and Nicola. “Being embarrassed about your size and scared that you might be the biggest person there. You needn’t worry though, everyone there is so friendly, especially the consultant, and its such a relief when to find out that your weight is confidential.”
Lorna added, “I’d had visions of having to tell everyone how much I weighed! Since then I’ve made so many friends at the group I’m even on the social team and I honestly don’t think I could have done it without their support each week. At first it seemed daunting and impossible that I’d be able to lose 10lbs never mind nearly six stone!
“The members of the group helped me with recipes 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.”
Both members followed the club’s food optimising eating plan and swapped convenience foods for healthy spaghetti bolognese, curries burgers and chips. Lorna said, “People think slimming means going hungry, eating nothing but salad, obsessively counting every calorie you eat and weighing or measuring everything on your plate, but it’s not like that at all at Slimming World.
“I love food and it’s never once felt like I was on ‘a diet’. I still enjoy all my favourite meals like burgers and chips and roast dinners but I’ve learned how to make small changes like using lean meat or cooking with low calorie spray instead of oil or butter. It fits in really well with the rest of my family as well, so we can all enjoy the same meals, and my whole family love Slimming World recipes.”
Kim Heath, who runs the Bowerhill Village Hall Slimming World said, “The changes we’ve seen in Nicola are incredible – as is she. I hope her success will inspire other people in Melksham 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.”
The Bowerhill Village Hall group meets every Monday at 5.30 and 7.30pm. For more details cal Kim on 07921 805006.
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