Trimdown triumph as Rebekah ditches the takeaways
AMUM from Burscough has been named the local Slimming World Woman of the Year 2019, after losing more than 8st in just over a year.
She will go on to represent her Burscough Slimming World group in the nationwide Slimming World Woman of the Year 2019 competition.
Rebekah Dunn has slimmed from dress size 28 to a size 14 in just 14 months.
She joined Slimming World in May last year, after putting on weight following the births of her two children, now aged two and four.
The 28-year-old tried a number of different things to lose the weight, but none were successful and she said they left her feeling hungry and miserable.
She used to suffer from gallstones and was told by a doctor in December, 2017, that she would need an operation to stop the painful attacks and was prescribed medication.
Thanks to her making long-term healthy changes in her diet, her gallstone attacks became fewer and fewer and she was able to come off her medication.
In a follow-up appointment in February, the same doctor told her that she could still have the operation if she wished, but it wasn’t required.
Rebekah said: “It’s just amazing the fact that I’ve got the choice not to have this operation. My motto with food always used to be quick, cheap and easy.
“I used to enjoy a takeaway once or twice a week, cook chips in the chip fryer, but, of course, the grease and fatty foods resulted in the gallstones attacks.
“As I’ve changed my diet, the attacks have lessened and the last one I had was nearly six months ago!”
Rebekah has gone from 20st 2lb to 12st and attributes her success to attending regular sessions at her Slimming World group at Burscough Cricket Club.
She said: “It’s honestly changed my life. I can’t explain the feeling. I’ve got more confidence, I feel more positive and I can do so much more.
“When I’d take the kids to the fair, I never used to go on any of the rides because I’d honestly worry about getting stuck.
“I took them to Alton Towers a few months ago and I went on every single ride, it was amazing.
“I can go on the swings at the park, go on the trampolines. I can even do cartwheels! I did used to feel embarrassed in shops because at one point I was a size 28 and couldn’t find my size in shops. Now clothes shopping is just so much easier.”
Rebekah has applied what she’s learned at her Slimming World group to make her tweaks to her diet over time.
She said: “I can still have my spag bol, but instead I use 5% mince and make my own sauce. I can still have my pasta, sweet and sour chicken, and eggs and beans on toast.
“It really is similar to have I used to have, it’s just swapping with healthier cooking options.”
Now Rebekah will go forward to the regional finals of the competition, putting her in the running for the national title.
The winner will be announced in November and the winner will take home a £4,000 cash prize.
Rebekah said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be Woman of the Year 2019 and I’ve had such great support from fellow members. Even though I’ve hit my target, I still attend my group every Wednesday, they’re like my Slimming World family.”
Her Slimming World consultant, Kathy Burslem, said: “I’m so proud of Rebekah. She’s a fantastic ambassador for Slimming World and what she’s achieved is nothing short of incredible.
“She’s a huge inspiration to everyone in our group and I hope she inspires other women, and men, in West Lancashire to change their lives in the same way.”
Rebekah’s plans for the future are to go to college when her children are a bit older, study beauty and one day open her own business.
To find out more about a Slimming World group near you, visit slimmingworld.co.uk