Real Success

After struggling with weight problems for over 20 years, Katie and Mark Fairhead from Wymondham in Norfolk, have lost a staggering 20 stones between them to be crowned Mr and Mrs Slimming World 2009.
“It’s hard to love other people when you don’t even love yourself,” Katie explains. “For years we were both miserable – uncomfortable with the way we looked and unconfident in ourselves.”

Katie’s weight spiraled out of control in her twenties due to stress at work and severe clinical depression and Mark piled on the pounds after moving from a physical job to an office based one.

“I joined Slimming World following a friend’s recommendation and I found the whole approach to weight loss very refreshing. I was so relieved to find that the weigh-in process is confidential and that your actual weight is never discussed in group, and I liked being able to set myself a target that I felt comfortable with.

“What surprised me most though, was the flexibility and freedom of the Food Optimising plan. It’s nothing like the faddy celebrity diets you read about – it’s so healthy and filling.

“I knew instantly that it would help me to lose weight because I wouldn’t have to starve myself like I had done in the past. With Slimming World I could eat huge plates of food and still lose weight!”

Katie’s initial weight loss inspired Mark and gave him self-belief and encouragement to start losing weight as well.

“Food Optimising meant that because we weren’t hungry all the time, food stopped dominating our lives. Enjoying Healthy Extras plus treats as part of our daily Syns allowance stopped us feeling deprived and removed that awful feeling of guilt – it was unbelievably liberating! We always wanted to eat healthily for the long-term, not just for weight loss, and Slimming World makes it easy to do that!”

Inspired by Slimming World magazine and all the fabulous ideas on LifelineOnline, the couple now spend time cooking together and trying exciting new recipes. “My current favourite is Chinese prawn and noodle stir fry and Mark loves the Moroccan-style cous cous with Thai green vegetable curry. At the weekend we get our Food Optimising cookery books out and try new things and we regularly do a traditional Sunday roast with Slimming World roast potatoes.

“We’ve both been blown away by the results we’ve had. Initially, I found having so much weight to lose extremely daunting but breaking it down into smaller, manageable goals and focusing on losing ½st at a time, helped us to stay on track.

“The encouragement and praise I received in Image Therapy was incredible and it

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really helped me to stay focused. I’ve formed great friendships in group too and this, together with the fantastic support my Consultant Debbie, has dramatically improved my self-esteem and confidence. I’ve become much more relaxed, outgoing and sociable – I’m even on the social team in group!”

Thanks to Body Magic Katie and Mark have bags more energy and they’re now fit for life rather than fit to drop!

“Mark got to the point where he couldn’t walk round the supermarket without bad pain in his legs and back. Now he’s training for a half-marathon and he cycles 28 miles a day to work and back.”

Bike rides have become a huge part of Katie’s life too, and this year the couple are taking part in the Ride for Life through Thetford Forest.

“We just love exercising. We both use the cross trainer we bought three years ago and we walk wherever possible instead of taking the car. Some of our favourite days are spent taking leisurely strolls along the beach with our two rescue dogs.”

Since losing the weight both Katie and Mark have seen massive improvements to their health. “Depression, crippling agoraphobia and panic attacks no longer control my life and Mark’s finally been able to have surgery on his hernia  – something that just wasn’t possible before.

"We’re loving the lives we’ve been fortunate enough to have been given back. Thanks to Slimming World we’re healthier, happier and ready to face the world – together. And there’s so much to look forward to.”

find out more

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