Mum and daughter are Melksham’s ‘biggest losers’

While most people would be offended to be called a ‘loser’, a mother and daughter from Melksham are over the moon to have been named the town’s ‘Greatest Losers’ of 2017.

That’s because Jane Pinchin and Sarah Guy have lost a life-changing five stone each to take the title, which is awarded to the members of the Melksham Town Hall Slimming World group who have lost the most weight, and feel fabulous as a result.

Jane, who has really noticed the change to her health says, “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a loser when it feels this good! I feel like I’ve been given my life back since losing weight – in fact, I look so different that people who I haven’t seen for a while often can’t believe the change in me.”

For Sarah, who has also improved her overall heath and fitness says, “For me it’s also been the change on the inside that’s been the greatest – I’m happier, healthier and much more confident now.”

Jane, 66, and Sarah, 49, joined the Melksham Town Hall group, which is run by Carmen Middleditch, in March 2016. Both say that before they lost the weight they would hate having their photos taken and now are really enjoying their new slimmer selves and proud to show off their achievements.

Jane added, “Our weight impacted on so many aspects of our  lives, from struggling to find clothes that we liked to not being able to do simple everyday tasks without feeling tired and out of breath.”

Sarah’s weight was also putting a huge strain on her health and was at high risk of diabetes and, on her last visit to her diabetes nurse, she was informed that she was no longer at risk.

For Jane, it has improved her ability to get out and about, whereas before she would really struggle with stairs, now finds that she can climb to the top of the stairs without being in pain and out of breath.

Jane says, “Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I needn’t have worried because everyone there was so friendly, especially my consultant Carmen. I was so relieved when I found out that my weight was confidential between me and her – I’d had visions of having to tell everyone how much I weighed! 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 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.”

Sarah  says, “People think slimming means going hungry, eating nothing but salad or obsessively counting every calorie you eat, 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’ – in fact, people are always surprised at how much food I can have and can’t believe I’m losing weight eating so much delicious food and without ever feeling hungry.

“I still enjoy all my favourite meals like stews 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 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.”