WORKER SETS HER SIGHTS ON JOB AS SLIMMING EXPERT
29-year-old’s career change after 3st loss
WHEN Katie Hancox went along to Slimming World in an effort to lose weight she had no idea it would also give her a change of career.
But that’s exactly what happened for the 29-year-old former factory worker who dropped three stone after attending the sessions.
Katie, from Stafford, first joined in 2016 when she weighed 14 stone 3lbs. After starting her own journey she realised she wanted to help others go on theirs.
She had previously worked in a factory in Eccleshall making air rifles. She’d tried to lose weight many times – but didn’t think she’d shift it.
After her first meeting, it wasn’t long before Katie became a full-time Slimming World consultant, and more recently a Slimming World team developer.
Katie said: “In January 2016, I was 14st 3lbs. It was my friend who brought me along and showed me. I fell in love with the group, with their friendly, funny atmosphere.
“I’ve tried many things over the years to lose weight, especially when I was younger. I couldn’t believe I could eat all this food and lose weight!
“The diet encourages people to fill up on unlimited amounts of satisfying foods such as meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, fruit, eggs, pasta and much more, and to enjoy meals with the whole family.”
Katie said the weight was impacting her physically and mentally.
She said: “It affected me physically in my hips, I used to suffer hip pain. With the weight I was carrying, I struggled to walk far.
“Then It affected me mentally, I would hate going clothes shopping. I’d try to cover up all the time. I hated my photo being taken. I see a completely different version of Katie looking at old photos. I’ve still got my size 18 jeans as a reminder.
“Now I love health and fitness. Losing the weight gave me confidence to go to the gym and find activities I like. I adore going out walking now and I don’t have any pain any more.
“I have confidence, I can pick out clothes that I always wanted to wear. I feel like a new version of me and my weight was holding this version back.”
Katie’s consultant at Slimming World encouraged her to try being a consultant herself. She said: “My consultant persuaded me to try it, she said ‘there’s something about you.’ I’ve been a consultant for two-and-ahalf years now.
“It doesn’t feel like a job. I get to help people and give them what I’ve got.
“I get to give them their freedom and their life back. I’ve always wanted to help people.
“I’ve helped people start families, I’ve helped people get into wedding dresses, I’ve saved lives. It’s hard to put it into words, it’s definitely a gift of the role.
“My three words to describe my work: flexible, fun and inspiring. There’s been many times they catch me crying. It’s life-changing stuff.
“I never saw it coming, I used to work in a factory making air rifles in Eccleshall. Since I took the leap, I’ve never looked back.”
Katie’s long-term dream is to become a trainer at Slimming World’s head office. She said: “I used to work in education, I’ve always liked supporting people, educating people and training. It enables me to reach more people on a larger scale.”