{"id":6511,"date":"2023-11-17T08:07:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T08:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slimmingworld.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=6511"},"modified":"2023-11-20T11:42:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T11:42:13","slug":"the-connections-i-made-in-group-helped-me-lose-5st","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/the-connections-i-made-in-group-helped-me-lose-5st\/","title":{"rendered":"“The connections I made in group helped me lose 5st”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In October 2021, I joined Slimming World weighing 19st 9lbs. Three days before, I\u2019d tried on the best man\u2019s suit that I\u2019d bought before the pandemic for a friend\u2019s wedding. As I pulled the trousers on, I realised they didn\u2019t fit and I had to get the suit altered to be two sizes bigger. I was mortified and that\u2019s when I knew I needed to do something about my weight.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Yes<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Feeling isolated<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t just my choice of clothes that was affected by my size \u2013 I was concerned about my health, too. I was on medication for chronic gout and I could barely walk because of the pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also suffered from crippling anxiety and was full of self-doubt. I worked from home in recruitment, and I tried my best to appear confident and positive on screen. Inside, though, I was nervous and I always felt that people were judging me.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Slimming<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

When I confessed to a couple of friends how unhappy I was, they were really supportive. They\u2019d both lost weight with Slimming World and they encouraged me to give it a go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thought of joining was terrifying, but I needn\u2019t have worried. The Consultant, Lorna, was so reassuring and as she explained how Food Optimising worked, it sounded really simple to follow. I couldn\u2019t believe I could eat chicken, rice and pasta freely, without any weighing, measuring or counting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Joe\u2019s menu<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breakfast: Bacon and sausage sandwich on white bread with lots of butter and ketchup, or a greasy fry-up at weekends.
Lunch: King-size instant noodle pot and crisps.
Dinner: A ready-meal or takeaway from the Chinese, Indian or kebab shop.
Snacks: Crisps, bars of chocolate, sweets.
Drinks: Sugary tea, cola and energy drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After<\/strong>
Breakfast: Baked beans, scrambled egg and bacon medallions on my Healthy Extra \u2018b\u2019 wholemeal toast.
Lunch: A lunch pot from Slimming World\u2019s food range (available from Iceland) with extra steamed vegetables.
Dinner: Diet cola chicken with lots of Speed veg or salad.
Snacks: A small bag of crisps, a Freddo bar or a pot of low-fat yogurt.
Drinks: Water and the occasional vodka and diet cola.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The power of group support<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As I sat down and listened to the other members talking in group, I realised I wasn\u2019t alone. There\u2019s something really special about being in a space together like that, where everyone feels safe enough to talk about their habits and temptations \u2013 it makes you feel so connected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That first week, I tried to prove the eating plan wrong by eating as much pasta as I possibly could, so I was amazed to discover I\u2019d lost 11lbs at the next weigh-in! The reaction from the rest of the group was so lovely. Losing weight suddenly felt doable and I wanted to succeed for the group as much as for myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel such a part of my slimming community now. My group\u2019s amazing \u2013 I\u2019m not sure I\u2019ve ever met a more supportive bunch of people. I was having a tough time a few weeks ago, and one of the members drove to my house to deliver some home-made Slimming World muffins! I\u2019m constantly blown away by their kindness. I\u2019ve made firm friends and I get genuinely excited about going to group each week \u2013 there really is no comparison between seeing everyone in real life and hiding behind tech. I was surprised by how many people were a similar age to me, as well, and I\u2019ve been really pleased to see more men join recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At Slimming World, we know that feeling connected in a group of kind and understanding people \u2013 who care about your success and positively support you to succeed \u2013 makes all the difference when you\u2019re trying to lose weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our poll of Slimming World members found that*:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n