Sharon’s brave new slimming world
A NEW Ashbourne Slimming World consultant has shared the story of how she transformed her own life – despite the challenges of lockdowns – and why she feels ready to help others change theirs.
Sharon Amy will be welcoming people to her new group sessions, every Tuesday from 9.30am, from December 28 at Ashbourne Leisure Centre, and she says she is looking forward to passing on the lessons she learned in losing weight.
Sharon, 52, was motivated to lose weight because of a skin condition and because she had become unable to fit into wellington boots, which made walking in the countryside during the winter a real challenge.
After struggling during the Covid lockdowns to stick to a weight-loss programme, she finally began to find success at sustaining her new way of life once Slimming World groups were able to open up and meet in person again.
She says the group sessions are what helped her to stay motivated and to get closer and closer to her target weight.
She said: “Being back in group was great just what I needed. The power of the group and the peer support members give one another is what sets Slimming World apart.
“We as members become part of a community, something special which helps us to realise we are not alone in the challenges we face.
“That combined with the personalised approach, which Slimming World calls ‘IMAGE’ therapy, helps every member to discover more about themselves as slimmers, identify their own pitfalls and danger zones and to create practical plans to overcome them.
“The company are constantly updating their information, so I was keen to not fall into the trap of thinking I knew what I was doing.”
Sharon confesses to being a fan of “proper food”, and had always been brought up to eat everything that was put in front of her.
But, she says, Slimming World encouraged her to be more careful about the food she chose, rather than cutting down on portion sizes.
She said: “My first stone was gone in 12 weeks, I was delighted.
“I had started listening to Slimming World-sponsored podcasts from the beginning and, for the first time, I really understood why the group sessions were so important, and why food optimising worked the way it did.
“I listened every Monday morning and this gave me a boost between groups.
“I started to write things at group in my plan of action box in my book. It’s quite funny to look back now at what I wrote.
“But by November my biggest challenge was about to start, we were going into lockdown again.”
Sharon says she dreaded the prospect of attending the group meetings on Zoom, and these kept her focused as she turned to exercise to help sustain her weight loss - always with one eye on the wellies she was desperate to fit into.
She explained: “Winter was much harder in lockdown than summer had been, the temptations were great and there seemed to be no end. I was still losing weight, because food optimising is all about never being hungry.
“We were faced with family challenges that all came at once. We had come so far, keeping family, friends and local community going.
“My constant was my Tuesday morning group, still on Zoom.
“It made me realise it wasn’t about standing on the scales, but being part of the group, talking things through together.
“I said I felt like a butterfly, just waiting to spread my wings and fly.”
As 2021’s winter lockdown finally came to an end, Sharon joined a new group in Ashbourne and set her sights on losing the final half-stone she wanted to shed to bring her to her ideal target weight, before reevaluating that target and
The power of the group and the peer support members give one another is what sets us apart. Sharon Amy
then aiming to lose a further stone.
She said: “I realised that where I really wanted to be was a stone lighter than this target, but I hadn’t believed I could get there.
“I’d listened to other people who had said it was harder to lose as you got older.
“The group support was amazing. I was learning so much about how I was thinking about food. Slimming World is all about doing what is right for you.
“I maintained my target weight for 18 weeks, partly because I couldn’t face having to buy all new summer clothes.
“I had a great summer, I felt comfortable in my own skin for the first time in years.
“I sought medical advice and cleared up my skin condition. I’ve improved my fitness by following our Body Magic programme and at 50+ feel better than ever.
“My biggest achievement though has to be that now when I walk our dogs I can wear my wellies with knee length socks and jeans.
“This would be a great place to end, but this is real life, my journey continues.
“I have maintained my new habits and I am now so committed to food optimising I decided to explore the amazing opportunity that Slimming World offer to become a consultant.
“It takes a lot of hard work and commitment but I want to help other people to feel good about themselves again.
“I am pleased to say with the brilliant training programme and support, given by Slimming World, I will be starting my own Tuesday morning group in Ashbourne on the 28th December.” l To find out more about Sharon’s new group, call her on 07828 233359. Slimming World group sessions are also available in the evenings, with fellow Ashbourne consultant Lizzy Butterfield, from 5.45pm on Mondays and Thursdays in St Oswald’s Church Hall. To find out more call 07941 786576.