Mum’s efforts turn her into poster girl
GEMMA BECOMES FACE OF WEIGHT LOSS CAMPAIGN
Gemma before and after her weight loss GEMMA Bosanko lost four stone in three years, and is one of the faces for Slimming World’s Autumn 2017 campaign. The mum was convinced to change her life after gaining weight following a diagnosis of heart disease at only 20 years old. The hereditary condition meant Gemma had a pacemaker fitted, and stopped exercising as much as she had previously. This led to weight gain and Gemma realised that things had to change. She said: “I gained quite a lot of weight. “Reality kicked in and I thought ‘I’m not helping myself right now’.” The 30-year-old says she feels fantastic now, but she sees her weight loss as a lifestyle change rather than a diet. She added: “I feel so much healthier. I’ve changed as a person, I’m much more confident and positive. “The biggest thing for me is I have learned about food and healthy eating. I live a really big lifestyle. So it works for me, it’s so easy and adaptable. “It’s not a fad diet, it’s just a way of life. We embrace it as a family.” Gemma, from Cumbria, has a huge following on social media, with her Instagram boasting 110,000 followers. She credits her social media presence with keeping her focused, and pushing her to try new recipes. “It’s made me a lot more adventurous.” “It certainly helps me. It makes me think. I’m aware that a lot of people are looking to my account – it keeps me on track. I feel like I’m more accountable.” Gemma is now an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation. She raised £20,000 for them after taking part in the Great North Run and the London Marathon – something she finds very poignant after the support she received after her diagnosis. Next year, Gemma is running the London Marathon with the Slimming World team, something she’s excited about doing. She’s honoured to be involved with the campaign: “It’s so lovely to be part of a campaign that changed my life.”