“Losing weight made us better parents,”
say Slimming World Couple of the Year 2011
Overweight and unhappy, Neil Bowers and wife Caroline Varney-Bowers were desperate to lose weight and become the happy, healthy parents they knew their two little boys deserved.
And the couple from Norwich have done just that after losing more than the combined weight of their sons Oscar, seven, and Elliot, two – more than 9st – and being named Slimming World’s Couple of the Year 2011.
Caroline, 37, had been overweight since childhood and put on more weight after having the couple’s first son in 2003. Meanwhile, Neil, also 37, saw his size increase after leaving the RAF at 25. Neil’s weight gain had a huge effect, leaving him so deeply depressed that he initially felt unable to bond with his newborn son. He says: “It was heartbreaking not having the feelings I thought I should towards our son and I turned to food for comfort. But after a while, I realised my depression stemmed from being unhappy with my weight. I wanted to be the kind of dad who could run and kick a football around, not one who struggled to even get out of a chair and had to watch from the sidelines. Without doubt, the best thing about losing weight is that’s who I’ve become. We love going for family walks and playing with the children – now it’s them saying they’re tired not us.”
Typical yo-yo dieters both Neil and Caroline, who married 10 years ago this September, tried numerous different weight-loss plans over the years, from meal-replacement shakes to low-fat diets, but nothing helped them to lose weight and keep it off. It was in July 2009 that Caroline kick-started the couple’s transformation when she decided to join Julia Jones’ Lakenham Slimming World group.
Caroline says: “Even as young as five I remember my weight being an issue, people would tell me to hold my stomach in for photos – that still rings in my ears today. But after having Oscar my weight went up so gradually that I almost didn’t notice, until one day I was a wearing a size 22. By that point keeping up with the boys was a struggle, especially in the summer when I’d get so hot and tired. I think I might have continued to turn a blind eye to things if it hadn’t been for something that happened at a work event. I was on maternity leave and a colleague asked me when the baby was due, but Elliot was already five-months-old! I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me.”
Within eight weeks of joining Slimming World Caroline had lost 1½st and her success was enough to inspire Neil to go along too. He’d also had his fair share of red-faced incidents including nearly getting stuck in a ride at Alton Towers and was ready to change as well.
The family transformed their diet following Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan. Ready meals were out and now they enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals around the table every day, anything from a huge Full English with grilled bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans and eggs to pasta and meatballs in tomato sauce.
Caroline, a community librarian, says: “When you both work and you’ve got young children, it’s easy to say you don’t have time to cook, but there are so many quick and easy recipes that are healthy too. Because it’s so flexible we can still have our favourite Indian takeaway every now and again too. We couldn’t believe the amount of food you could eat and still lose weight, but the proof was there on the scales every week.
“Going to our Slimming World group was a real motivator. I’ll admit we were both nervous at first, especially Neil because unfortunately men are a bit fewer and further between at slimming clubs, but we were put at ease very quickly. We’ve made so many new friends and whether I’ve had a good or bad week, I always leave feeling invigorated and ready to start a new week afresh. That shared experience of slimming together didn’t stop at group for us because we had each other at home too!”
Now Neil and Caroline are 9st 2½lb lighter. Neil’s lost 4st 9½lb and 10in from his waist, while Caroline’s 4st 7lb down and dropped five dress sizes, from a 22 to a 12. Not only did this see them needing new wardrobes, it’s also helped them become more active. On top of running around with their children, Neil’s been able to get back on the bike he used to be too heavy for and cycles to work regularly, while Caroline’s now whirling around the dance floor even faster at her weekly Ceroc dancing club.
Neil, a test analyst, says: “We feel like completely different people from the couple who walked into Slimming World 18 months ago. We’re happier, healthier, and more confident.”
And to prove it, Neil plans to do a parachute jump to raise money for Help the Heroes. He says: “I’ve wanted to do a jump for a while but at 19½st I was too heavy, now I’m in the safe limit and I can’t wait.” So Neil really is jumping for joy at his and Caroline’s weight loss! – ends –
Vital statistics
Caroline’s starting weight: 14st 13lb (209lbs and 95kgs)
Weight now: 10st 6lb (146lbs and 66kgs)
Weight loss: 4st 7lb (63lbs or 29kgs)
Height: 5’ 3”
Size then: 20-22
Size now: 12
Neil’s starting weight: 19st 9lbs (275lbs or 125kgs)
Weight now: 14st 13.5lb (209.5lbs or 95kgs)
Weight loss: 4st 9.5lb (65.5lbs or 30kgs)
Height: 6ft 1”
Waist measurement then: 44” waist
Waist measurement now: 34” waist
TYPICAL DAY BEFORE
Breakfast: large bowl of cereal with three or four slices of toast with butter and jam
Lunch: a sandwich with crisps, a chocolate bar or cake and some fruit
Dinner: shop-bought pizza, chips and beans followed by ice cream
Snacks: crisps, chocolate, cake and lots of biscuits
TYPICAL DAY NOW
Breakfast: Full English with grilled bacon and low-fat sausages, baked beans, tomatoes and eggs fried in low calorie spray with wholemeal toast
Lunch: tuna pasta salad followed by fruit and fat-free yogurts
Dinner: homemade shepherd’s pie with vegetables
Snacks: fruit, yogurt and Slimming World-style chips (chipped potatoes baked in the oven in low calorie cooking spray).
– Ends –
For further information please contact the Slimming World press office on 01773 546039, 01773 546101 or 01773 546037 or email: public.relations@slimming-world.com
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Notes to Editors
- Slimming World is the largest and most advanced slimming organisation in the UK. Margaret Miles-Bramwell (OBE, FRSA) founded the company in 1969 and there are now more than 7,300 groups held weekly nationwide via a network of nearly 3,000 Slimming World trained Consultants.
- 350,000 members attend Slimming World every week and achieve outstanding success.
- Members lose 1.3millions stones every year: 25,000 stones every week: 5,000 stones every day, over 208 stones every hour, that’s 3stone 7lbs lost every minute of every day with Slimming World.
- Slimming World pioneered referral schemes in the UK and actively supports the building of partnerships with the NHS and local authorities to develop effective strategies to manage overweight and obesity in the community. Slimming World works with university researchers and specialists in an active research programme to further knowledge of the causes and treatment of obesity.
- Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, Food OptimisingÒ, and the principles behind Slimming World’s philosophy are based on a deep understanding of the challenges faced by overweight people. Slimming World integrates practical, up-to-date dietary advice with a highly developed support system.
Slimming World Consultants receive specific training in dietary aspects and the role of physical activity in weight control. The highly developed training focuses on facilitating behaviour change in a group environment, acknowledged by experts as being the most effective way to support long-term weight management.