MEMBERS of a Wirral slimming group have set themselves a challenge to make their 'Christmas wishes come true'.

Higher Bebington Slimming World group is counting down to the festive season as part of the organisation's ‘Believe in a Slimming World Christmas’ national campaign, which encourages its members across 13,000 groups in the UK and Ireland to set a personal goal related to their weight loss that they’d like to achieve in time for the big day.

Becky Higham, who runs the Higher Bebington group, said: "The run up to Christmas can often be a tricky period for members.

"From Halloween to Bonfire Night and Diwali to Chanukah and all the extra dates that are building up in our calendars, one of the biggest challenges at this time of the year is trying to stay on track with our goals.

"So this month, my members and I are committing to making our weight-loss dreams come true by setting our own individual goals that we’d like to achieve by Christmas.

"These might be goals around weight loss but for many of us they’re about non-scale victories.

"For some members, this could be to feel better in themselves and for others it could be about feeling confident in a specific outfit, and for some it could be about trying to up their fitness levels or reaching their target weight".

Abbey Jeffries, who joined the Higher Bebington group with her mum, has lost a total of two and a half stones.

She said: "The reason I started Slimming World was because I was so unhappy within myself, I hated the way I looked but always felt to anxious about going to a group with people I didn’t know, I joined Becky’s group as I wanted and needed the support because I couldn’t do it by myself."

“My biggest challenge was weekends, but especially takeaways, I used to have about 10 a week, It was so easy to just order a takeout with my friends.

"The more uncomfortable I was getting in myself the more I would comfort eat, it was a habit I needed to break, which group really helped me to change my mindset and behaviour towards food! I love that I can have a weekly treat all planned in. 

"I’m lucky as we now have a healthy cafe at my work, so I can stay on plan by going to the Buddha bar and I still make healthy choices that feel like I’m having a take away.

"I now go to the gym!! Never in a million years would I have stepped foot in a gym, along with the weight loss, I feel comfortable in the gym and more comfortable wearing clothes I never would before.

"It’s a great feeling, enjoying my life and not feeling like I’m missing out, that’s important to me."

Higher Bebington Slimming World group meets every Tuesday at Victoria Hall Community Trust off Village Road, Higher Bebington, CH63 8AB. At 7.30am, 9am and 10.30am.