Once I lost 10 per cent of my weight, I really felt the difference
FROM better health to the birth of a child, a mother and daughter say shedding more than nine stones between them has transformed their lives.
Linda Parrott and Emma Johnston have both been on the Slimming World journey since 2013 when they first joined as members and now they have even made a career of it as consultants.
Now seven years later, the consultants are using their own success stories to inspire others into losing weight.
On the plan, Linda managed to shift several dress sizes going from a size 20 to 22 to a size 8 after initially losing more than six stone in 18 months.
The mum-of-four, however, felt too thin and is now a healthy size 12 to 14.
Her weight loss journey gave her the confidence to become a consultant, and over the years Linda has helped hundreds shift weight.
The 54-year-old, from Rutherglen, said: “I feel amazing. I generally do not pay full price for anything. I always go to sale racks.
“Whereas at my heaviest, I had to go to shops that sold plus size, everything was a fortune and black.”
Her daughter Emma has shifted more than three stone on the plan and even hails Slimming World for giving her son Zac who is 15 months.
The 30-year-old, who lives in East Kilbride, said: “The doctor said I couldn’t go further forward with fertility treatment because my BMI was really high.
“She recommended Slimming World after I had taken a break.
“I lost about a stone in just a few weeks and then I found out I was pregnant naturally.
“I even followed the plan throughout my pregnancy for the benefit of my son’s health.”
Slimming World was founded in 1969 by Margaret MilesBramwell (OBE) and focuses on a diet of Food Optimising, where members are given a list of ‘Syn Free’ food, that can be eaten in unlimited amounts including fruit, vegetables, pasta, potatoes, rice, lean meat, fish and eggs.
It is designed to help people lose about one to two pounds a week and around 900,000 members attend each weekly group across the UK.
Emma, who is still working towards her target, followed in her mum’s consultant footsteps last summer because she wanted to help others lose weight knowing the effect it had on both their lives.
She said: “I sat in the group every week and watched people changing. I loved seeing people get awards and I was proud that my mum played a part in that.
“Being her daughter and seeing everything she did behind the scenes made me want to become a consultant.
“I was a carer so I have that side to me that I want to help people.”
She added: “There are millions of people who are obese in the UK. If I can just help one person get to target I will feel great about that.”
Linda said: “We need to get people through the door so they know it is not a diet and you will never be hungry. It is a lifestyle change. For me personally I was asthmatic and I would struggle to walk short distances.
“Once I lost 10 per cent of my weight, I really felt the difference.
“I know if I return to obesity I will need to use my inhaler again. That is what sticks for me.”
And while losing weight is tough for everyone, the one thing that keeps both Linda and Emma going is their strong bond and willingness to support each other.
Linda said: “We have always had a close relationship which probably comes from me being an only child and having a daughter first.”
Emma added: “I am the only girl, I don’t have a sister so it is natural for me to be closer to my mum.
“Everyone who comes to our groups is in the same boat and they want to lose weight for different reasons. There is never any judgement.”
• Linda’s classes are at The Sun Inn Function Suite in Halfway, Cambuslang on Tuesday at 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm, and Wednesday at 9.30am and 11.30am.
• Emma’s classes are in Rutherglen Old Parish Church on Friday at 9.30am and the Montford Bar Function Suite in King’s Park on Thursday at 3.30pm, 5.30pm, and 7.30pm.