So…some of you may know that I joined Slimming World in January 2016. I needed to – writing about food for a living had taken its toll, and I’d put on waaaaaaaaay too much weight. My health was suffering, my sleep was suffering – I needed to do something about it.
That’s why on January 5th 2016 I joined my local group, after seeing the success that a friend had. I was a bit sceptical at first about a plan that allowed you to eat unlimited quantities of rice, pasta and potatoes, and where chocolate, cheese and alcohol were allowed, but I lost 4lb in my first week and motored along in the months after that.
Fast forward to September, and I hit my target, losing a total of 5 stone in 8 months. And that was with still going out for dinner at least once a week, and enjoying a 10 day summer holiday in August. I couldn’t believe it – I still can’t!
It’s not just my weight that’s improved either: I no longer get out of breath when walking, my anxiety’s decreased a LOT, and the medication I was on at the start of the year is no longer needed. My mood’s improved, my sleep’s improved…the only problem is that I now have the expense of buying a new wardrobe in a size 8 rather than a size 18!
I’m well aware that I post a lot of stuff about unhealthy food here on Bristol Bites. But there’s a balance to be found between enjoying the naughty stuff from time to time, and following a lifestyle that’s mostly healthy.
Before Slimming World, I hadn’t found that balance. But now I’m so evangelical about it that I’ve decided to become a Slimming World consultant – the photo below shows what a difference it’s made to my life.
The point of this post? Well, it’s shameless self-promotion really! In early December, I spent a weekend up at Slimming World’s head office for three full-on days of training, and I’ll be starting my own Slimming World group on January 5th 2017 (a year to the day since I joined as a member!) at Ashton Park School on Blackmoors Lane, not far from Ashton Court. As of January 5th, the group will take place on Thursday nights at 7.30pm, and I can’t wait to get started!
So, if you know someone who may benefit or fancy giving it a go yourself, please do feel free to like my group’s Facebook page, follow my new Twitter account or find me on Instagram, where I’ll be sharing details of special joining offers for January, giving an introduction to the sorts of foods I enjoy (hello homemade burgers, curries, pasta bakes and more!) and keeping followers updated on plans for the January 5th launch. And if you can, please do share – I’m doing this to try and help as many people in the area as possible to benefit from what I’ve learned and to make as much of a difference to their lives as I have to mine…I can’t wait!