‘I was a diet consultant who couldn’t lose weight... but look at me NOW!'
Donna Cooper, 55, had been a Slimming World consultant for 25 years, but despite helping others, she struggled with her own weight. Until a surprise award changed everything...
As a teenager, I could eat whatever I wanted and not put on any weight. But that changed when I became a mum for the first time at 21, and over the next six years, I yo-yoed from a size 12 to a 22 between having my children Laura, Dan and Shani. I’d go from one extreme to the other with food. I’d either be following a heavily restrictive diet or indulging in all my favourite treats, such as multipacks of chocolate bars, and having takeaways four times a week.
My husband Mark loved me whatever my size, but by 1995, at 5ft 3in and weighing 16st, I was desperate to lose the weight and keep it off for good. I’d never tried Slimming World before, but decided to give it a go after a friend recommended it, and when I went to my first group, it was a light-bulb moment. The approach was completely different to other diets I’d tried as it focused on what you could eat, rather than what you couldn’t. Instead of calorie-counting or cutting out entire food groups, the plan was about eating healthy, nutritious and filling meals and never letting yourself go hungry. As a working mum of three, I liked how the recipes suited the whole family, meaning I wouldn’t have to prepare my own meals separately like I had done in the past.
I was so passionate about the plan that a few months after joining, I became a consultant and was looking after 300 members in my local area of Milden Hall, Suffolk. It gave me such a huge buzz helping people achieve their weight-loss goals. But while I could help my members achieve their success, I would fluctuate between a size 16 and a size 22.
Focusing on my own weight loss had completely slipped down my list of priorities, and while I knew the plan inside out, I wasn’t in the right mindset to adopt it myself, and I was back in the vicious cycle of yo-yo dieting. If I had a big event or holiday, I’d go on a “strict” diet and lose several pounds, only to gain it all back after a few weeks. I was honest with my members about my own food issues, and thankfully, they were supportive and didn’t judge my abilities as a consultant based upon my own weight struggles.
Then, in 2016, I attended the Slimming World awards with my daughter Shani. I’d been every year since I’d become a consultant, and it was such a fun and glamorous event. I felt good in my size 22 pale blue gown, and I made sure my hair and make-up were looking perfect. Only, I had absolutely no idea that I was about to called up on stage. “I’m delighted that this year’s special achievement award goes to Donna Cooper,” the CEO of Slimming World, Caryl Richards, announced. I couldn’t believe it. I was completely shocked and honoured that I’d been given this amazing award. But as dozens of cameras flashed in front of me, I suddenly felt deeply self-conscious, especially as I had to go on stage in front of 2,000 people! I knew everyone was supportive, but I wasn’t able to enjoy the moment because I was embarrassed by my size. Collecting my award should have been a special moment for me, but I couldn’t enjoy it. When I came back home, I realised I should be helping myself the way I had helped thousands of others. It was the trigger I needed to get back on the Slimming World plan.
I joined another Slimming World group and felt so focused. I was 16st 1lb, and my consultant Tracy was amazingly supportive. The weight came off steadily. Unlike my crash diets, I stayed consistent and
put a stop to what I call “silly eating”, where I was just mindlessly eating rubbish. For breakfast, I swapped Coco Pops for porridge, and instead of eating shop-bought cheese sarnies, I’d make my own healthy BLTS. For snacks, I’d eat seasonal fruit or make lowfat desserts, such as cheesecake made with ricotta and Quark cheese. I also got a fitness tracker and started counting my steps and walking regularly.
After I lost about a stone, my members started to notice how baggy my clothes looked, and
I felt confident to tell them I was back on plan. We were each other’s cheerleaders. It took me two years to hit my 4st weightloss target, but these new habits are a way of life for me now, and I have managed to maintain my weight ever since. After decades of yo-yo dieting and enduring a terrible relationship with food, I’ve finally achieved a balanced, healthy lifestyle that’s both sustainable and enjoyable.
I believe that consistency is key. I still enjoy a bit of chocolate or a slice of cake now and again, but I don’t take that as an invitation to eat the entire cake! And I love taking my golden retriever Cooper out for his daily four-mile walk. There’s no magic quick fix, and you have to work for it and be patient, but trust me, it’s worth it. ● You can find your nearest group at www.slimmingworld.co.uk or by calling 0344 897 8000.