Meet some of our fab bodyOptimise members and find out what they’ve been up to this month... Read Corinne’s heart-warming story, find out how Maureen coped with a hectic social calendar, why Elizabeth’s cruising along nicely… plus much more…

Corinne’s December goal

I joined bodyOptimise around three months after I gave birth to twin girls at 27 weeks old. The girls were both just under two pounds each and spent the next three months in special care before coming home, with one eventually coming home on oxygen due to chronic lung disease. As you can imagine my mind was not really on weight loss but around the time they came home I decided that I wanted to get healthy and fit in order to look after them and my boy of twelve to the best of my ability. Due to the circumstances I wasn’t able to attend a group so decided to join bodyOptimise.

Some weeks have been harder than others due to the girls being ill quite often and going back into hospital but I have to say that I’m pleased with my progress so far - I’ve lost 2st 9½lbs. I’ve now joined the local gym as well and try to get there at least twice a week whilst also taking the girls on long walks.

I aim to reach my target before my big 40 in December this year and take part in a mini triathlon next year. It’s good to have goals, so I’m looking forward to that and I’ll be in touch with my progress!

From Corinne Haycock

A busy social calendar for Maureen

My weight-loss may not be staggering but I can't believe I’ve lost half a stone in the last 2 months!  The amazing thing is that this time period included my son's wedding - a whole weekend of feasting, two Christmas parties as well as Christmas dinner, a huge feast at New Year and lots of friends coming to spend weekends with us in January. 

I can't believe I did it!  I think the secret was I filled up on Free Foods where I could and saved Syns for times when I knew I'd be eating a mixed-bag.
I also made sure I didn’t make myself feel like I'd blown it if I went a bit mad.
I simply went back to Food Optimising. I never feel hungry or tired and grumpy - feelings that were so often present on my previous attempts with other diets.   

What also helped was being able to serve delicious food to my friends and family!  Nobody thought it was ‘diet’ food.  I'm a keen cook and the recipe search facility has been a life saver.  Thank you to all you cooks who have shared some of your stunning recipes! 

The other bonus is that my ‘foodie’ husband (who was sceptical about me joining, given what we had on our calendar) has also lost half a stone and never complained about being hungry!  That really IS a first!

Thank you Slimming World!

A thinner yours,

Maureen Raud, Devon

Little chef Jackie

I was always very sceptical about diets and have always maintained that I would never pay anyone to help me lose weight. I’ve always eaten much more sensibly when I’ve needed to, but when my weight got to the stage it was three weeks ago I knew I had to do something. I looked around and took advice and decided to give Slimming World a go.

Since then I’ve lost 7lbs, found a better way of cooking plus my family can’t believe the change in our meals. My daughter called me the little chef one evening so now each evening when we sit down to dinner I wait in anticipation to see if my new meal gets the thumbs up and so far they’ve loved every one. I said to my husband before Christmas that I didn’t have a passion for anything, well I have now so I look forward to the coming months and losing more weight, plus enjoying every moment.

Many thanks Slimming World.

From Jackie Jakeways, London

Online is the solution for me!

I'm a mum of two but I also work full time with a long commute morning and evening.  I love exercise (have run for a few years) but I always ate too much of the bad stuff, using my running as an excuse to eat what I liked! 

I’ve tried other diets but always felt too hungry. I joined a group in January but found it difficult to attend because of train problems/family sickness, I still lost 7lbs however. 

I’ve now joined online to keep on track as I was finding it difficult to make groups. I’m amazed at the information on the site.  I like Food Optimising because I don't have time to weigh everything, and I don't feel hungry on this plan either.  Also, all my family seem to enjoy the food so far.  I'm hoping that, although I haven't got the benefit of group sessions, I keep up the weight loss.

From Anne-Marie Garraway, Kent

Yummy mummy Nicola

I’ve just had a baby and obviously have put on a bit of baby weight so have decided to follow Slimming World again. I’ve been a member for a few weeks now and have lost 10lbs so far, which is great. 

I’m finding that spring and summer looming is a great incentive as I want to be a yummy mummy on the beach this year not something that resembles a beached whale.  Also I find that going and having a look around the shops is great too as there are some really nice clothes around this year and I found myself getting excited about the thought of wearing them this summer a few stone lighter.

Good luck to you all out there and good luck to me too.

From Nicola Bidmead, Cornwall

Elizabeth’s cruising along nicely!

I've been Food Optimising now for almost 4 weeks and have lost 11lbs (another weigh in tomorrow!). I would just like to say that I love the website. I don't mean to be a creep (heaven forbid) but it's soooooo nice to be able to just pop online and fill in my diary... and the 'My Progress' page is an added incentive to keep going. I find it much easier to stick to healthy eating now that I can keep track of my day's intake and plan ahead.

I can honestly say that I've not been hungry, and I've always been a VERY greedy person (hence the vast size of my hips). I'm a scientist by profession, so unsubstantiated claims don't impress me. I know that if I want to lose weight, I should eat less and move about more. But knowing this doesn't make it easy to do; the Slimming World Food Optimising plan is straightforward and covers all bases. I can even eat out if I want to!

We've just booked a week's cruise and normally I'd be fretting about what a lump I'd look, how uncomfortable I'd be. But now? I'm just determined to stick to Food Optimising 100%. I won't be at my target when we go on holiday at Easter as I have too much weight to lose... but I will be a lot slimmer than I am now. The food choices on board ship mean that I can stick to healthy eating (with an occasional treat) so who knows? I might even lose some weight whilst on holiday!

I shall, of course, make sure that I take my Free Food lists and a list of Syn values with me... just to be on the safe side.

From Elizabeth Groom, Leicester

Hilary’s in control again

I’ve been a diet-controlled diabetic for two years and to be honest I always knew that my weight played a big role in that diagnosis. I never really paid much attention to my diet even after being diagnosed and thought I was “getting away with it”!
 
The big wake up call came three weeks ago when I went to the diabetic clinic and was told that I needed to take medication for both diabetes and cholesterol.

I gave myself a talking to and decided I could either give up or get on with it and finally take responsibility for myself.

I joined online last week and am amazed by the amount of information that there is. I was reassured by the medical opinion and advice. I’ve weighed myself today and have lost 6lbs – I’m so pleased.

I’m feeling really motivated at the moment and plan to stick with it. I have a lot of weight to lose but I’m taking it all one day at a time. I’m sure there will be times when I struggle but feel so much more in control of my life.

From Hilary Forbes, Prestatyn