03/02/2026
Another one of our fabulous
Greatest Loser 2026 winners 🌟
Meet Vicki …
When i joined slimming world I was sceptical about losing any weight at my age let alone the amount of weight I knew I NEEDED to lose mainly for the sake of my joints but general health and well being. On December 24, when I walked back from an outdoor carol concert, I really don’t know how I walked home. I was like the tin man from the wizard of oz. I knew I was way too heavy, but up till then, it hadn’t impacted on my walking. Even then, I thought well it’s Christmas, and I am going to enjoy it." What I really meant was I wasn’t going to stop eating all of the food and treats that I had bought. It got to February, and I still had treats left, but with my daughter Helen’s impressive weight loss at slimming world, I thought I would go with her and give it a go. I had been a member before, but after a poor start to weight loss, I didn’t go back. The diet or should I say the plan had changed from that time. Once I saw all the things I could eat and how a few changes in the way I needed to prepare meals, I thought this looked good. In my heart , I knew that really this was the way I should have been eating all of the time. I think most people know what they should eat but all too often we choose to eat all of the things that taste nice but we know they’re not really healthy if they form the basis of your diet rather than the occasional treat. I read the books in the pack that I was given planned my meals and went shopping accordingly and have never looked back. When I went to the meeting the next week and lost 7and1/2 pounds, I was hooked. I bought some of the cookery books and magazines and something just clicked. I particularly liked the fakeaway book. All the treats most of us love and all healthy. BRILLIANT!!!! The weight gradually came off some weeks losing more than others, but I stuck with it, and in 9 months, I lost 4 stone 8 & half pounds.
How did I feel……. Amazed, if I am honest. I couldn’t believe that just by eating all the things I liked just cooked a little differently, I could still lose weight.
The best thing is that my joints don’t ache now, and in March 25, just 3 months into the plan, my blood pressure and annual blood tests were all normal for my age. That felt great !
Of course the other benefits are being able to buy smaller and more modern clothes. I have dropped 4 dress sizes. The charity shops have certainly benefited from this but not as much as I have.
My advice to anyone just starting the plan is to read the books, plan your meals, shop accordingly, and use your food diary. You will get results. Know your triggers….. if you know you can’t have just 1 biscuit or 1 piece of cake or, in my case, 1 bag of crisps, DONT buy them in the first place.
Most importantly, if you go off track don’t beat yourself up about it. Get back on track as soon as you can, and you WILL lose weight. Don’t give up, and remember to stay to class. The support of the group will help you. We’re all here for the same thing. Losing weight. Those who have been going to group for a long time are full of tips whether it’s a new recipe, a new product they’ve found in the shops or a change in the swips in something they’re full of helpful .
Always remember. Speed foods are your best friends. By eating more of these along with free foods, you can’t go wrong, and you can still enjoy an occasional treat. For example, a meal out,a glass of wine, 1 biscuit whatever you like, but don’t go over your swip allowance.
I honestly didn't think losing weight could be as simple. I also think that as a new target member, this may be where the real work starts. I know that if I stop coming to group, old habits will creep in, and the weight will go back on. The simple answer for me is to keep doing what I’ve been doing, follow the plan,get to a group take a seat and stay motivated and committed and if I do go out of target range, go back to basics and get back to target.
Thanks for reading , Vicki. Xx
