I’m ready to be a confident bride in dress of my dreams
At 16 stone 2lbs – the heaviest ever in her life – Kathryn had little confidence, was very low, with no positive outlook on life.
She has three beautiful,happy boys, a fiancé, house and friends. What was there not to be positive about?
But she was so unhappy with her weight that it was bringing everything around her down in life.
She said: “During my last two pregnancies I let myself go. I gained six stone and I felt like I would never find a way out of the forever darkening downward spiral I was headed to.
“I knew the only way to find the old me again was to lose that weight. I tried to find a way to lose weight but it was followed with a full tub of cookie dough ice-cream or a huge share bar of chocolate (to myself ) saying “it’s impossible”.
“I would look in the mirror, hate what I saw, then that little devil voice would start, ‘Fat Kathryn. Look at that stomach, those thunder thighs, back fat. You will NEVER be healthy again, fat for life lady that’s you’.
“That voice, wow it was strong. Ninety per cent of the time that voice won. That 10 per cent of will power grew stronger each week and all of the sudden that ice-cream tub was still full in the freezer untouched! I found will power.
“With this will power I had found I lost three stone. I was so much happier and feeling more positive. Christmas came and so did all the chocolate treats. I didn’t resist that devil voice and the pounds started gaining again. I was stuck, couldn’t get my head back into it.
“Then at the right time, a family member was part of a Slimming World group in Uphall with consultant Lisa, eating what I thought to be endless amounts of food, but yet lost 2.5 stone.
“I said to myself ‘I need me some of this Slimming World’ so the first week in January off I went to join this class.
“The fear was strong, knowing I have to stand on those scales in front of people. I thought the consultant would shout my weight out and I knew that would be embarrassing and I can’t do it.
“Well how wrong was I? It’s such a positive vibe in the classes. Our weight change is discussed but never our actual weight which, when you’re at the start of your weight loss journey, is a big deal as you don’t want the world knowing what weight you are. Lisa was and still is an amazing consultant.
“She took all new members aside and gave us confidence in the plan working for us.
“I left with a great amount of information on how I can food optimise by eating the right foods and still lose weight and staying in the class is such a massive help too.
“The stories in class were inspiring. The support, help and tips from everyone throughout their journeys was and still is incredible. It’s such a positive happy place to be part of.
“I knew this was the right decision, I was ready for this new chapter to begin.
“The pounds just wouldn’t stop flying off, 6lbs one week, 7lbs this week, 4lbs that week a few months and I was feeling the benefits.
“Then the next thing I knew I was hitting my target weight. Target member, four stones gone forever! I just couldn’t believe it.
“I lost all that weight so easily and I was never hungry. The plan slotted into my very hectic family lifestyle perfectly, my kids love the food too and I only needed to cook one main family meal not any separate meals.
“Twenty- two months from the beginning of my weight loss journey (including before Slimming World), I am six stones lighter.
“I am back to being my positive happy self, running around with my kids not out of breath and my relationship is on a whole new level.
“I now have my wedding to look forward to in March 2018.
“Without the help from my amazing consultant, Lisa and everyone at class (who are like my second family) I wouldn’t be where I am now – feeling ready to be a bride full of confidence and wear the dress of my dreams, looking and feeling amazing.
“Slimming World is a way of life, not a quick fix and not a fad diet. You make new friends, in a positive environment and learn to love yourself and food again, learning to cook if you can’t cook.
“My best tip is take the step and join a class. Stay at class and follow the plan.
“I did and I have never looked back – if I ever have it is only to see how far I have come!
“Size 20? Never again Kathryn Grant – size 10 only.
“Come slim with us in Uphall on Tuesdays at 5.30pm and 7.30pm.”
Lisa Salia-Bao runs Slimming World classes in Uphall South Parish Church on a Tuesday at 5.30pm and 7.30pm also runs a class on a Wednesday in Broxburn at the Canon Hoban Hall at 3.30pm and 5.30pm. All welcome.
You can contact her on 0773 631 6400.