Find a friendly group at which to lose weight
HOW TO MAKE 2021 THE YEAR TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS
The new year is a time when we can all look at our lives and try to ring some changes for the better. Many readers of the Burton Mail may well be thinking of losing weight in 2021, so Tim Bryant found out how friendly local groups run by Slimming World can help make this dream a reality this year
WHETHER you are 17 or 77, male or female, there is likely to be one thing occupying your mind if you overindulged at Christmas or that pesky weight problem just won’t go away.
Yes, you will almost certainly be considering going on some sort of a diet as a New Year’s resolution to create a “new you”.
Unfortunately, for so many people, it turns out to be mere wishful thinking, and hopes of that longed-for new figure disappear as rapidly as a nice glass of wine on a gloomy January night.
But perhaps this year CAN be different. With today’s Burton Mail, you will have noticed the inclusion of a free magazine from the slimming organisation Slimming World, which happens to be based not far away in Alfreton, Derbyshire.
It sets out how anyone can achieve success with losing weight by following a menu plan based on Slimming World’s famous Food Optimising eating plan and offers expert advice to help you navigate the hurdles that often trip up slimmers on their weight loss journey.
That’s all very well, but losing weight is pretty hard to do on your own, and aren’t we all virtually locked down, meaning you can’t meet up with people who also want to ring the changes in 2021?
Well, yes, but Slimming World is proving to be pretty savvy about matters such as Tier 4. Groups are operating via Zoom, something that Stacey Jacks, team developer for Slimming World in Burton, says has been a “brilliant” way to continue supporting people as they lose weight through what is a tough time.
But if Zoom is not your thing, don’t worry. Stacey, who is a mum and runs a number of groups in the Burton area, including those serving Branston, recognises that technology can be a barrier to people who want to lose weight.
She said: “Zoom is not for everybody. So we can offer phone calls to people each week.”
In this scenario, the member will weigh themselves at home and, as with members attending via Zoom, the data is input on the Slimming World app.
Joining Slimming World is easy. One option is to punch in your postcode on the website to find your local group, contact the consultant and away you go.
However, Stacey says that if anyone wants to join Slimming World and wants to keep it really simple, they should just text her. So here is her number: 07919 891195.
Stacey, 41, has been a Slimming Consultant for nine years and says everyone is welcome. She said: “It doesn’t matter if you are 17, 18 or 90.”
She lost 2st on her own weight-loss journey and realises that achieving
success for people is far from easy: She said; “Losing weight is hard, and doing it on their own is even harder.”
What can help people achieve their target is taking advantage of the warmth found in Slimming World groups. For instance, those run by Stacey or her colleague Gina Meredith, who looks after Rolleston and Horninglow, with weekly
Zoom meetings on Monday and Wednesday nights at 6pm.
Like Stacey, Gina, 62, a semi-retired civil servant, is keen to reach out to people who might otherwise be hesitant about joining a slimming group. Summing up Slimming World, said: “This is for everyone and anyone.”
Stacey said the organisation is also concerned about childhood obesity, and its Free 2 Go programme enables youngsters aged between 11 and 15 to access its services with a paying adult, probably one of their parents. Often, the adult will already be a member of Slimming World, but not being one is not a problem.
For young people, the emphasis is on education, teaching them, for instance, how to make the switch from fatty hamburgers bought at takeaways to making smaller, healthier burgers at home, or improving their school pack-ups. Stacey said: “It’s about helping them make better choices.”
Thankfully, in these cash-strapped times, joining Slimming World won’t break the bank. The membership fee is half price at £5, with a weekly fee of £5.95. To join, visit slimming world.co.uk or call 0344 897 8000 or, as previously mentioned, get in touch with Stacey directly.
The next Slimming World magazine will be distributed free with your Burton Mail tomorrow.