At school, I remember looking at the slimmer girls and wishing I could be like them. When I got my first job, as a waitress, I dreamed of spending my wages on fashionable, slim-fitting clothes. Instead, I spent my money on food. Food was comfort, celebration, distraction... the answer to everything, really.

Over the years, I tried every diet going – including calorie counting and cabbage soup – and every exercise gimmick you can think of. None of them worked for long, because none of them actually taught me how to change my habits or lifestyle.

I’ve been a nurse for 20 years, mainly in the aesthetics and cosmetic surgery sector, an industry where there’s an unspoken pressure to look a certain way. I never used to feel beautiful enough or that I truly fitted in.

Things spiralled when the pandemic hit in 2020. I got Covid in April, and went on to develop long Covid. I lost my senses of smell and taste, my breathing became laboured, and even walking the dog left me feeling exhausted. At the time, my GP assumed my symptoms were due to my weight – and hearing that crushed me.

By October 2021, I was at my lowest point – mentally, physically and emotionally. One morning, I looked in the mirror and, as I had so many times before, said the cruellest words: ‘I hate you. You’re fat. You’re ugly. You have no self-control.’ But something shifted that day. I made a promise that I’d never speak to myself that way again.

On my way to work, I stopped for coffee. Normally, I’d buy treats to go with it. But instead, I pulled out my phone and searched for my local Slimming World group. I found Sally’s class – and joined the very same day. That choice changed my life.

Food Optimising was a revelation. I’d always thought I was being healthy by counting calories, but I was spending them on unhealthy choices. Slimming World showed me how to enjoy food without guilt, how to make smart swaps, and how to build protein-rich meals that left me feeling free, not restricted. That freedom was the game-changer.

I stayed to group every week and IMAGE Therapy became my lifeline. The encouragement, the laughs, the honesty, the sharing – it was magic. Knowing that my words might help someone else make a better choice when they got home gave me strength, too. I use the Slimming World app and listen to the podcasts, but nothing compares to sitting in that room with people who understand – and who you genuinely care about.

Read more: What happens in a Slimming World group?

My husband, Paul, has been my rock throughout. He’s watched me go back to the confident, happy, sassy woman he married. And my two teenage sons have grown alongside me. As my mindset changed, I started using more positive language around food and food choices. That led the boys to become more involved in cooking and exercise, and our whole family’s outlook shifted for the better.

For years, I told myself I was too busy to exercise. My nursing work involved constant travel and long days, and my self-care was non-existent. But I started to give food prep and activity the attention they deserved. I rejoined the gym and gradually went from doing nothing at all to working out six times a week. That’s where I found my passion: kettlebells.

Kettlebell training (with my coaches Simon and Ste at TU NOVA) didn’t just build my body, it built my confidence, too. I joined a team, and entered several competitions, winning six gold and four silver medals. I even qualified for the England team – that was the moment I realised how far I’d come. I’m now part of the English Kettlebell Association committee and a certified judge of the sport.

That dream only became possible because I developed new habits, stayed consistent and embraced the support of my group.

Discover more: Slimming World's activity programme

Last month, I worked my final shift as an employee – because now I have my own business as a clinical consultant. It’s my dream role. For years, I felt one step behind in my career. Now I’m front and centre, and I finally feel I deserve to be there.

Today, I’m the slimmest I’ve ever been – from a tight size 16 to a comfortable size 6 – with a healthy BMI. I sleep soundly without medication. I eat without guilt. I no longer dread the mirror. In fact, I don’t even need it any more, because my confidence no longer depends on it.

But my proudest achievement isn’t on the scales. It’s in the way I treat myself now. The cruel voice is gone, and in its place is kindness, encouragement and self-belief. I lift myself up. I celebrate myself.

If I could give one gift to anyone struggling with their weight, it would be this: use Slimming World support to change that inner voice. Because when you stop fearing your own reflection – and your own thoughts – everything else follows.

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