Real Success

Donna May Henderson, from Sunderland is celebrating her award as Slimming World’s Top Target Consultant 2009 after spending a fabulous 13 years at her weight loss target.

Donna spent years yo-yo dieting before joining her local Slimming World group in April 1995 and losing a fantastic 5st ½lb.  She’s maintained her amazing weight-loss ever since and gained a successful business to boot after becoming a Slimming World Consultant in January 1996.

Mum-of-two Donna says: “I’d always been chubby, even though I did a lot of sport at school, but after having my two boys (now 16 and 14) I was the most overweight I’d ever been. I tried almost every fad diet going but nothing worked long-term and my weight went up and down.

“It was a comment my mam made that finally led me to Slimming World. The whole family was gathered around watching a home video of me and my sons playing in the garden and my mam said: “Our Donna, look at the size of your backside!” It was the kind of comment only a mother could get away with and I was mortified, but I had to admit – as always – my mam was right. Needless to say, I joined a group the very next week.

“It was actually my mam that convinced me to give Slimming World a go, she’d been talking to a lady in a coffee shop who was a member and came home raving about it. To this day I still believe word of mouth is the best advertising for my groups; nothing is as powerful as the huge smile on the face of a member who’s hit their target weight. Slimming World members choose their own personal target weight – the weight at which they feel most healthy and comfortable. And members who slim down to their target can attend any Slimming World group free of charge as long as they stay within 3lbs of their chosen weight – who wouldn’t want to tell their friends about that!

“At Slimming World I learnt that healthy eating and regular activity are the only way to long term success. But it’s the support of the other members of the group that’s always helped me to stay focused.

“I dropped five stone and five dress sizes, and I’m delighted to say that for the first time in my entire life I proved my mam

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wrong – no big bum in sight! Even after 13 years at target being slim is still a fabulous feeling. I’m proof that Slimming World isn’t a quick fix; it’s a change in behaviour for life. I’ve found it easy to stay at my target because Food Optimising fits in with the family, I don’t have to cook separate meals or feel that I’m being deprived because nothing is banned.”

For Donna being active is as important as eating well, she goes to the gym and swims every morning. She says: “Before I lost weight I did no exercise at all. Now it’s the start to my day, it makes me feel alive and kicking and ready to motivate everyone in my groups.”

Donna, who is a Gold Slimming World Consultant, runs three Slimming World groups in South Shields and Boldon Colliery with around 80 members in each group.

“I love my job - but I don’t call it a job because it’s just so much fun. I’m always encouraging everyone to enter competitions but this is the first time I’ve ever gone in for one myself so I’m absolutely over the moon to have been awarded the title.”

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If you'd like to reveal the real you, find your nearest warm and friendly Slimming World group, where men and women are welcome.