Weight loss has been a bit of a rollercoaster but Steve has enjoyed ride
SQUEEZING INTO SEATS AT THEME PARKS WAS A CATALYST FOR THRILL-SEEKER TO TACKLE ISSUES
ALL kinds of things can trigger people to shed weight, from a bad photo to a looming wedding.
But for Steve Herbert the motivation came from a slightly more unusual place – his love of rollercoasters.
His weight loss story began in January 2017, shortly after he joined the Rollercoaster Club of Great Britain.
Steve, 46, of Earl Shilton, said: “We were going to places like Alton Towers, Drayton Manor Park and Blackpool Pleasure Beach but I was finding the rides really uncomfortable.
“I’d always struggled with my weight and at this point I was about 14-anda-half stone.
“It wasn’t just the rollercoasters – I found it hard to be on my feet for a long time without my joints aching.
“And around then I was also starting out as a freelance hairdresser, driving around in my Ford Fiesta, which isn’t exactly a huge car.
“It was very cramped and the seatbelt was cutting into me.
“I felt an overwhelming feeling of self-hate because of my weight and appearance.”
Once he had taken the plunge and turned up for his first Slimming World meeting, in Earl Shilton, the weight started coming off very easily, he said.
“I went to my first Thursday meeting and I was feeling quite nervous, but also excited that I was finally doing something about my weight.
“Slimming World was very different from other diets and things I’d tried, but I felt straight away that it was a really good plan for me – I knew it was going to work.”
Within a year of joining Slimming
World, Steve had lost three-and-a-half stone, getting him down to his target weight of about 11 stone.
He said his weight had gone up and down a bit since then.
Part of the reason for that was the troubles with his mental health over the years and medication he was taking, but he found that having the support of his Slimming World group made a big difference for him.
He said: “In April 2018, I suffered a huge depression episode and had a minor nervous breakdown. It led to me feeling withdrawn. However, I never missed my Slimming World meetings.
“Being in a friendly environment where there was no judgement really helped. I was very open about my mental health and the support from the group and the consultant helped me turn a corner.
“Then I was made a social team member and knowing I had a part to play in the group made me even more determined not to miss a group.
“I struggled a bit when starting medication as my appetite increased, but once I realised I could fill up on ‘free’ foods I was soon back on track.
“I’m proud to say that I’m well on my way back to my target weight thanks to the amazing work Slimming World and their consultants do on a daily basis.”
Steve is now taking over as the consultant at the Slimming World group in Huncote, and looking forward to helping other people reach their target weight.
■ To find a Slimming World group near you, visit the organisation’s website.