Slimming World

Slimming World.

From Strangers to Friends

I waited outside the local parish hall and nodded at the couple of women having a crafty cigarette. I read the big yellow sign and chuckled to myself. It said

“There are no strangers here only friends you haven’t met”

What on earth was I doing here on a cold January evening? I didn’t need any more friends! I was just here to meet my daughter. She had a wedding in 10 months time and was desperate to look good in her bridesmaid dress and I was here for her not for me! So, I quickly reminded myself that I needed to take this seriously if I was to support my daughter in her weight loss journey.

As we walked through into the cold hall I did what I always do when I am starting on a new experience and I made a mental snapshot of my surroundings.

The room was decorated with posters and advice about how to lose weight the Slimming World way and a small group of women had started to make a circle in the middle of the hall. There was a table near the front with some vegetables carefully arranged. A lady was selling raffle tickets and people kept putting fruit in this bowl as they queued up to be weighed.

There was a collection of books and magazines at the far side of the hall and all along the front there were graphs and targets.

The scales were pride of place at the front of the hall. I watched as different members removed trousers, shoes, jackets, and jewelry: anything that would make a difference to their weight loss. They chatted as they waited and once at the dreaded scales they smiled at the lady recording their progress and hoped for a positive outcome.

My daughter tapped me on the shoulder as a rather large lady approached us with a cheery hello, offered us a cup of coffee and showed us to the new members table. She introduced herself as our consultant and we settled down for our introductory talk

As I listened to the new members talk I couldn’t believe I was actually sitting in a cold Parish Hall at 5 o’ clock on a Wednesday night in January. Little did I know that I would be there every Wednesday for the next 12 months.

I was soon introduced to phrases such as Food Optimizing and Body Magic rather than dieting and exercising. At the end of our talk we were invited to stay for image therapy. I joined the circle as near to the back as possible and smiled at my daughter as we embarked on what was to become an incredible journey for both of us.

In the circle were 20 or so other ladies and one man. I found myself joining in the applause as we celebrated the award winners for that week. I quickly learned not to call the awards “stickers” and that if our consultant began by saying that someone had had a wonderful weight loss so far that was the clue that they had had a gain this week!

Throughout that first session I remember looking around at the variety of people in the circle. There were the best friends, the odd couple, the lone man, the new mum, the skinny lizzie, the one with a book full of stickers (sorry awards!), the large family and the nannan and her grandson.

Little did I realize that these strangers were indeed to become my slimming world friends over the next 12 months and as the weeks turned into months my daughter and I would become the mother and daughter of the group.

At the end of that first meeting we were invited to get on the scales for our first weigh in. I was shocked when I got on the scales! I had no idea I was so big. I told myself I had heavy bones!!!! When our consultant asked me what my target was I hadn’t really got an answer because I hadn’t really thought about it.  I was here for my daughter, remember, not for me. So I laughed and said

“Size 12 in 2012”

I had crept up to a size 16 after the death of my mum in 2010. I had always been a healthy size 14 and everyone told me I looked good so I never worried or cared about my weight. I never thought for one minute that my consultant would take me seriously however she thought that was a great target and had no idea how impossible I thought it would be.

I hadn’t been size 12 since I was 18, but I didn’t say anything because I wasn’t there for me I was there for my daughter so in my head I told myself, if I didn’t reach my target it didn’t matter. Its only now I realize that I was there for me and I really did want to hit that target. Of course my consultant knew that and never doubted my commitment.

We left that evening armed with new information books, food diary sheets, loads of advice and a website and a Facebook page to join. When I got home I introduced my hubby to the eating plan and we sorted out a shopping list. I then joined the social networks and posted my experience on my face book page!

That was 15 months ago and I reached my size 12 target in September 2012. I set myself a new target and I am currently only 4lbs short of that. So why do I still go to that draughty Parish Hall every Wednesday night at 5.00pm? The answer is simple, its because Slimming World has become a part of my life. I never imagined it would on that cold January evening back in 2012, but those strangers I met 15 months ago are indeed my slimming world friends. I have become part of a group and I feel a loyalty to that group. That’s why I turn up and that’s why I stay. There is a core group of members who I feel represent what Slimming World is all about and I think I am becoming one of those members.

Like most members I read the Slimming World magazine every month. I love reading about how Slimming World has changed people’s lives. I didn’t really think that my life had changed too much until I started reflecting on my Slimming World experience. I didn’t think that had a story to tell. I was never going to be on the front cover of their magazine. Then it occurred to me that I might have a story to tell: that maybe my story, is the story of all those core members, of every Slimming World Group.

I could represent those members who go to group every week and stay to image therapy. Our weight loss journey is slow at 1lb or 2lb a week. We don’t look hugely overweight at the start but we are not exactly slim either.

We watch and celebrate as others win slimmer of the week/month/year and we continue to lose 1lb or maybe gain a1lb. We support those new members who arrive and lose 2, 3, sometimes 4 stones in a year and then we notice when they are no longer in the circle.

We haven’t got to target on our own. We all need support. Most of us get our support from our consultant and from those other members who stay to group.

When I first sat in that circle I never imagined I would still be there 15 months later. I have considered leaving our group a few times but when it gets to Wednesday night I feel a loyalty to the group and I join the circle and listen to the advice of the group. If they all left then the group wouldn’t exist so I stay to keep the group going and to add my support to those new members who arrive at the door and laugh at that sign just as I did 15 months ago.

I think back to my first meeting in January 2012. I remember convincing myself that I was doing this for my daughter not for me and until recently I believed that. Well my daughter reached her target and looked amazing in her bridesmaid dress in October 2012. Soon after the wedding she became pregnant so she stopped attending the sessions. I, on the other hand, still attend every Wednesday and I still smile at the sign at the entrance as I walk past those same ladies having a crafty cigarette. They are now my friends and we laugh together as we share a coffee every week.

Throughout the last 15 months I have never considered myself to be on a diet, I just eat healthily. My husband and I have made small changes to how we cook and what we put in our shopping trolley. We cook using Fry Light and buy fresh vegetables every week. We only buy whole meal bread and we eat breakfast every morning. There is always fruit in the fridge as well a bottle of wine. I still enjoy a few chocolates and we have a take away every week.

I love my new shape and even though I wasn’t unhappy before I think that the weight loss journey has helped me overcome the loss of my mum. I talk to her often and tell her how she’d hardly recognize me now! My life hasn’t changed drastically but its true to say that the strangers I met at our local group have made a difference to my life and that’s why I will keep attending that old parish hall every Wednesday night and become a friend to whoever walks through the door.

Maybe one day my story will make it into one of the Slimming World magazines?