Slimmers celebrate weight loss success

Jan 3 2013 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

An inspring mum is half the woman she used to be after dropping five dress sizes.

Michelle Livingston has gone from a size 22 a year ago to a trim size 12, after deciding to lose weight last Christmas.

She said: “I was going on a Christmas night out last year with my work and the upset of trying to get a dress was awful as I could not get anything to fit and, although my dress was nice, I just felt horrendous. I then returned to work after the Christmas break to see a photo of me at our Christmas lunch which really hit home how big I actually was.

“It was then I decided to join the Slimming World Group in East Calder. I was extremely nervous and self conscious about joining as I was so big but everyone was so welcoming. There is no humiliation whatsoever, just lots of encouragement and support and total confidentiality about everyone’s weight.”

Michelle cooks the same meals for herself as she does for husband Dougie and her teenagers, Sophie (16) and Scott (13). And she says they are all feeling the benefit.

Michelle added: “My whole family are eating better than they ever did with much greater health benefits too. I have kept a food diary every week since I started so I can keep track of everything I eat and this has proved to be a huge help to me.” Michelle now attends fitness classes regularly and is now almost at her ideal weight.

She added: “I am very proud of the new me, having gone down five dress sizes in 11 months is a fantastic achievement. All my friends and family have supported me I have a few pounds to go until I reach target and I hope to do this by the end of January.”

Eddie Woods of Blackburn also felt unhappy with his weight and was desperate to slim down.

And now his efforts have paid off by dropping from from 22 stones to 18 stone 11lbs since joining his local Slimming World group in September – and now he’s well on the way to his target weight.

Eddie said: “I hated being overweight and I did try to do something about it, I’d go to the gym and watch what I ate but I’d never lose much weight – if any. I’d always thought that slimming groups were just for women, but it was clear ‘going it alone’ didn’t work for me and I needed some extra motivation. So when my sister, a member in Peterborough, told me about Slimming World and then I got a leaflet about a new group in Blackburn I decided to give it a go and it was the best decision I could have made.”

Eddie began following Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan. He says: “I can honestly say I feel like a different man since losing weight. Now I am always on the go and am happy to run around with the kids. I also smile much more and my confidence levels rising has meant that I have been able to get myself my dream job.

Once he started to lose weight Eddie soon found he had more energy. I started walking more leaving the car behind when I could.

Now that I have lost six inches from my waist I am now ready for something more strenuous so I am going to join the gym. This is something I used to do and enjoy.”

Moira Rennie, who runs the Blackburn Slimming World group, which Eddie attends, says she’s incredibly proud of him.

She added: “Eddie is proof that men can benefit from the support to eat more healthily and get more active as much as women. He’s a real inspiration.”

Moira will be opening a new group in Armadale on Tuesday, January 8. For more information or to join Slimming World call Moira Rennie on 0795 614 4279 or visit www.slimmingworld.com