Real Success

Shirley Brown from Birmingham lost a fantastic 3 stones to reach her target and accept an important proposal!

I ve struggled with my weight all my life. My husband died 13 years ago and my weight increased slowly over the years. I barely had time to think about my weight as a busy mum of four children!

I lost weight with Weight Watchers years ago but it was too strict and I was an animal to live with! Over the following years I dabbled with other diets without much success as I quickly got bored with the restrictive meals.

When I began to struggle with my breathing and went up another clothes size, I knew it was time to act. I was determined to do it this time so I went along to my local Slimming World group for support.

Food Optimising is so easy because I m not depriving myself of anything, I m not irritable, in fact I m more fun! I love the Green choice and my favourite meal is baked potatoes with chick pea dahl. I also enjoy meals out at Indian restaurants, using my Syns and Healthy Extra options.

I look and feel fantastic. My Irritable Bowel Syndrome has improved a great deal since following Food Optimising. Becoming slimmer has also helped in my new job as a Service Charge Manager for a property company, as I have much more self confidence.

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My whole family are proud of me, my eldest daughter comes to group with me and has lost a stone. I have two grandchildren and I can get down on the floor and play with them now.

The best thing of all is that I finally felt I could say "yes" to marrying my boyfriend of eleven and a half years! My fiancé is like a love struck teenager and loves showing me off. We had stopped going out so much as my weight had crept on and confidence decreased. Now you can't keep us in at weekends!

As a surprise, I booked our wedding venue at Villa Park as my fiancé is a lifelong Aston Villa fan. The look on his face when I told him was a picture! My 17 year old son will be giving me away at the wedding and has told me how proud he is to have a mum like me. I have bought a fantastic wedding dress four sizes smaller than my original size!

I ve been at my target weight now for over 2 months; I m very comfortable with my new way of life. We recently went on holiday to Portugal where I wore my first ever bikini! My self esteem has improved so much, there's no stopping me now!

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.