Leanne continues with Slimming World throughout her pregnancy

Now two stone lighter, 36-year-old Leanne Andrews, from Llanrumney, Cardiff, is brimming with energy to share with her young family. Here’s how she made healthy weight loss work around her growing family...

“I’d lost a lot of weight for my wedding in 2008 and reached my target weight, I felt I had my weight under control so stopped attending group.

“My husband and I decided to try for baby number two, but it wasn’t happening. I decided to bite the bullet and return to Slimming World. Some of the same friendly faces were still there and they welcomed me back with open arms.

“It was like I’d never been away. The plan is so easy. In no time I was losing weight and feeling great, eating real favourites like curries, chilli and roast dinner. Before I knew it I had eaten my way back to target.

“Then I became pregnant. I was so happy, yet nervous in case the weight went back on. I spoke to my consultant, who reassured me I could food optimise my pregnancy safely with guidelines from my midwife.

“My consultant and my family were fully behind me. My sister had booked her wedding and we were excitedly looking at dresses when it hit me. The wedding was in eight weeks after my baby was due. Getting straight back to shape only happened to celebrities, not people like me.”

Leanne decided that sticking with food optimising and her local group was the only way she would feel supported and confident to keep going. She attended every week and still enjoyed comfort foods.

Leanne added: “Being at group, I was delighted to find understanding and support with the challenges that go along with pregnancy. It was a huge relief, when my consultants explained that Slimming World is the only weight-management organisation to work with the Royal College of Midwives.

“That means members who are pregnant or breastfeeding can safely continue to attend Slimming World, to get the support to manage their weight healthily.

“Needless to say, my growing baby came first. In order to get enough energy and a good balance of nutrients, my consultant advised me to double up on my daily healthy extras. So I had 500ml semi-skimmed milk each day and more portions of wholemeal bread, along with all the unlimited ‘free’ and ‘speed free foods’ that I was already eating. It meant I was having plenty of fruit and veg.

“As my pregnancy progressed, it was a world away from the last one. My baby bump was growing nicely, yet my arms and legs were becoming slimmer and I had so much more energy. It was really reassuring to have my midwife on board.”

Throughout Leanne’s pregnancy she gained 6lb and attended group right up to the birth. Her baby, Joseph, weighed in at 6lb 4oz. Leanne lost 6lb that week and another 6lb the following week. She was now lighter than before her pregnancy.

Leanne relaunches the Llanrumney group, held at St Dyfrigs Church Hall, Countisbury Avenue, every Monday, 5pm-7pm.

Visit slimmingworld.co.uk/rcm for more information