A SUPER slimmer from Ellesmere Port has told how she lost plenty of weight and gained plenty of confidence.

Shelley Snow, who has lost nearly seven stone in less than a year, said: “In the past I’d tried to lose weight but with no real structure in place, I wouldn’t tell anyone and would start counting calories or cutting out carbs.

"I thought it would be easier that way than making a big fuss about trying to slim and then not being successful, but ironically because of that it never worked.

“When I joined my local Slimming World group in January 2022 at Hope Farm Methodist Church in Great Sutton with Bonnie, it took a lot to walk through the doors because I thought I would be judged but everyone was so friendly and welcoming.

"I expected it to be restrictive and prescriptive – I thought I’d be weighed in front of the whole group, told what to eat and given a weight I should be.

"I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was weighed privately, my weight was confidential, and I chose my own target weight.

"I found the Food Optimising eating plan was flexible enough to fit around my life and the things I enjoyed eating so I never felt hungry and being in a group of people, who were all like me, from the same place as me, made me realise I wasn’t alone and I started to feel like if they could do it, so could I.

"And, this time, with the support of a group I did! It was much easier than doing it on my own, after all.”

When Shelley first joined her local group, she sat quietly in the back taking it all in. She explained to her consultant Bonnie that she was happy to do that, she just wanted to be in group and was ok to not be spoken to and to just be there in the group to get the ideas and motivation that she needed for the week ahead.

As Shelley began to lose the weight – she lost over a stone in her first month – she began to gain confidence and became an integral part of group.

Shelley now loves to share her tips and tricks and the other members in the group really do appreciate her support!

Shelley works full time and has two young children and a partner at home. As she gained confidence in the food optimising plan she was able to cook meals that her children enjoyed and still enjoy her own versions of the meals and continue to lose weight.

Shelley has also won the group competition 'Miss Slinky' members nominated her and for Shelley this was also a great confidence boost.

She said: "It's not just about the weight I've lost, but the life I've gained."

Local Slimming World consultant Bonnie Campbell said when people try to lose weight on their own, without telling anyone, it isn’t effective.

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She added: "What is effective is being part of a powerful, supportive Slimming World group. As the leading UK organisation in weight loss, experts in food, activity and the psychology around slimming we know that members are more successful when they lose weight as part of a group – and the higher their attendance the better the more weight they lose!"

Shelley added: “I am so glad I finally walked through the doors of my Slimming World group.

"My advice to anyone who is thinking of joining and is feeling apprehensive about what to expect, be reassured that you will be warmly welcomed and supported every step of the way and ye,s you can eat the foods you love, live the life you want and lose weight."

Bonnie runs her Hope Farm Methodist Church group every Friday at 9am and 10.30am.

For more information, call Bonnie on 07834 420331.