I’d always struggled with my weight, but things became particularly difficult after I had my son, Joshua, who’s seven. I had put on a lot of weight when I was pregnant and found it hard to lose afterwards. Over time, it crept up to 18st 9lbs (118.4kg) and began to affect every part of my life – both physically and emotionally.

At my heaviest, even the smallest things felt difficult. Walking up stairs left me out of breath, with aching knees. Running felt impossible, even for a few seconds. Something as simple as walking the dog became a real effort. 

Emotionally, it was just as tough. I’d had periods of being much slimmer in the past, and constantly compared myself unfavourably to those days. I hated my reflection, and my clothes never seemed to look right. That constant disappointment really takes its toll after a while.

I’d tried other ways to slim down before Slimming World. My mum had been a member of another weight loss club, so I’d gone along with her a few times. I’d also tried calorie counting and some shake-based diets – usually right before a holiday and knowing deep down that a week of drastic measures wasn’t going to change much. None of them ever stuck.

What made things feel even more complicated was that I actually work for the Slimming World digital support team. My colleagues at Head Office are more understanding than anyone about the challenges of losing weight, and there’d never be any judgement or pressure from them. But the pressure I put on myself was huge, as was the sense of embarrassment when people asked me about my job. I’d think, ‘I can’t say I’m at Slimming World – they’ll think it doesn’t work’. That feeling stayed with me for a long time.

I was a real stress-eater. Biscuits were my thing – and not just one or two, but a whole pack at a time. I’d regularly skip breakfast, then have half a pack of biscuits with a cup of tea at around 11am and finish the rest at about 3pm.

Lunch might be a jacket potato loaded with butter and cheese – absolutely no salad or veg in sight. Dinner was usually home-cooked, but I’d use double cream in sauces, add lots of cheese and serve huge portions, often followed by chocolate or more biscuits through the evening. We’d also have a takeaway two or three times a week.

Everything changed on 1st January 2025, when I decided to join Slimming World Online as a member. I’d turned 40 the previous year and realised I didn’t want to carry on living in the way I was. After years of being inspired by the incredible members I’ve had the privilege to help, I knew that Slimming World Online was the natural next step for me. Then, in February, I went through a relationship break-up, and that gave me even more determination to make a real change.

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I’m someone who likes to have things organised, so the online planner quickly became my go‑to. Each week, I’d sit down to map out my meals and write my shopping list so I had everything I needed. That bit of planning made batch-cooking easier and really helped me stay on track.

What I love most about Food Optimising is the flexibility and choice. There’s always something I can eat, whatever time of day it is. The recipes are delicious, and the Slimming World food range has been so helpful when time’s tight after a late shift or at weekends. Hi-fi bars have become my lifesaver, too – they’ve replaced those 11am and 3pm biscuit habits perfectly.

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Two habit changes I made were particularly helpful for my slimming journey. One was to check Swips before I ate things (rather than after!). The other was making sure I weighed in every single week, no matter what. Seeing my online progress chart change kept me accountable and motivated.

I still eat out, and we go on lots of holidays, including cruises. When I’m away I loosen up slightly, but I still try to build Speed Free Foods into my day (fruit at breakfast is an easy way to start). When I’m eating out, gammon with potatoes and vegetables is my favourite – by allowing a few Swips for oil, it’s a great Food Optimising option.

Exercise has changed gradually for me. At weekends, those quick 15-minute dog walks have slowly turned into two-hour sessions! Once I’d lost about 2st (12.7kg), I started doing the Slimming World activity videos online. I began with the cardio ones and have recently switched to strength training, even buying myself some weights to use at home.

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I’m really grateful that I never lost my motivation. After my break-up, it felt like a switch had flipped in my mind and suddenly I had this new determination. There have been weeks with celebrations, meals out and plenty of cake around, but I’ve reset my mindset. I’ve learned I don’t need to eat everything in front of me – I can enjoy anything in moderation.

The changes in my day-to-day are incredible. One of the moments it really hit me was walking upstairs from a work meeting room at the very bottom of the building to the office where I sit. I used to arrive completely out of breath. Now it feels easy. And if I’m late – which happens more often than I’d like – I can actually run!

When we’re holidaying on a cruise ship, we take the stairs everywhere now, rather than the lift – whether it’s two floors or 10. I’m also far more comfortable on long-haul flights than I used to be. Even the tray table sits where it should, which might sound like a small thing, but it feels huge.

Losing weight has changed the way I see myself. These days I can buy clothes from shops I’d never have looked at before. And I don’t have to wonder if things will fit me any more.

My biggest ambition now is simple – I want to travel the world comfortably with Joshua. I want to show him all the amazing places I’ve been lucky enough to see and be able to keep up with him every step of the way.

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone thinking about starting their own journey, it would be this: real change takes time. There will be moments when you question whether it’s worth it, but it truly is. Start small. Change the way you think about food, the foods you reach for and the way you move your body. Don’t try to run a marathon when you haven’t yet run up your own stairs. Don’t tell yourself you have to go without – have the biscuit if you want it, just not the whole pack. And never say no to living your life. There are always Food Optimising choices wherever you go.

The biggest transformation for me hasn’t just been the weight I’ve lost – it’s the mindset I’ve built along the way. And that’s something I know will stay with me for life.

Weight loss will vary according to your individual circumstances and how much weight you have to lose.