HER CONFIDENCE BACK would end to change
A chance meeting with an old friend changed Danielle’s life, now she wants to help others
A mum has achieved her dream weight loss goal after almost being reduced to tears at her reflection in the mirror.
Danielle Gray, 34, was spurred into action after having a full-length mirror installed in her home.
The Linwood mum-of-two says she tried her best to hide her lack of confidence from her friends and family before finally deciding to tackle her weight.
Starting out at a size 20, she says she would regularly cry when trying on clothes.
Fed up and lacking confidence, Danielle decided to join Slimming World after bumping into an old friend.
She told the Paisley Daily Express: “I was always a bubbly person who acted very confident but on the inside I just wasn’t happy with how I looked.
“We got full-length mirrors installed in our house and having to look at myself in the mirror every night just made me so unhappy.
“I could barely look at myself.
“I hated going shopping. I would always end up in tears.
“Everything I bought was black or baggy. “I bumped into a girl from school who I hadn’t seen in ages and she looked great. I asked her what she had been doing.
“When she told me about Slimming World I couldn’t believe it and knew I had to try it out.”
When she first joined Slimming World in 2013, Danielle weighed 15st 7.5lbs.
She says she had no idea she would be able to achieve what she has today when she first walked through the doors at her local group.
With the help of consultant Louise O’Neill she has been able to maintain her weight loss for more than five years.
She is now a confident size ten, weighing a healthy ten stones.
Her healthy eating habits have even had a positive effect on her children Carson, 16, and Jersey, 13, and her husband David, 34, who has lost three stones.
Danielle explained: “When I walked through the doors never in my dreams did I think I would have achieved my goal weight.
“When Louise asked me what my goal weight would be never did I think it would be possible to achieve it.
“After my first week I lost an amazing 6lbs and was gobsmacked standing on the scales.
“I knew then this was the lifestyle change I needed, not only for myself but also for my family.
“We now all sit down together and have a family meal, which we all enjoy, including two very fussy children.
“David has also lost weight just from eating the dinners I make.”
To try and help others, Danielle will be launching her own Slimming World group in Paisley later this month.
She says she considers her Linwood class as her family and she wants to offer people the same support.
Danielle added: “I have loads of great advice to give but the most important part of my journey has been the help and support I receive every week in group, staying in the group is essential.
“The inspiration and motivation helps keep you going through the great weeks and the not so great weeks, not to mention all the great recipe ideas being passed around.
“I love my Slimming World family - they will be my friends for life, there to support you right through your journey and beyond.
“I have changed my habits for life and know I will never need to go back being the same unhappy size I was.
“I have newfound confidence and want to help others to feel as amazing as I do.
“I can’t wait to give my own members the same warm welcome I got when I first walked through the doors of Slimming World. I will show them the belief that I was shown on the very first day and still to this day.”
To find out more about Danielle’s new group give her a call on 07784 250 063.
She will be relaunching the Paisley group on Tuesday nights at Martyrs’ Church hall, Broomlands Street, on August 27 at 5.30pm and 7.30pm.
When I walked through the doors never in my dreams did I think I would achieve my dream weight