Horror pic snapped me into action
PartyphotomadeRachelrealiseit wastimetotakecontrolofherweight
NIKI TENNANT
When Rutherglen woman Rachel Orr was tagged in a photo from a kids’ Hawaiian-themed party, she was horrified to realise how much weight she had piled on.
Rachel weighed 15st 1lb and was wearing a dress size 18/20.
The offending picture spurred the 30-year-old into action, and in June last year, she joined her local Slimming World group.
A slimline Rachel has since lost 3st 8 lbs and fits into a size 12/14.
And the days of dropping chocolate, crisps and sweets into her shopping trolley just because they were discounted are over.
Rachel admits that prior to joining the group she didn’t plan meals and wouldn’t consider cooking anything that couldn’t be popped in the oven or poured from a jar.
“Now my shopping habits are completely different and my whole family has benefited.
“I plan my recipes in advance, so I know exactly what I need for the week and my shopping is actually cheaper because it’s full of fresh meat, fruit and vegetables,” explained Rachel, who works in marketing.
“I can still enjoy all my favourite foods. I get what I need rather than filling my basket with junk for the sake of it being cheap.”
Rachel continued: “The whole family can enjoy my cooking too and they say the meals we eat now are tastier than before.
“I have so much more energy since losing weight. I’ve even taken up walking every day for 20-30 mins on my lunch hour.
“In the morning I get off the train one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way to work. Nowadays I bounce round the supermarket feeling completely in control – it’s a wonderful feeling.”
Rutherglen weight-loss consultant Emma Johnston says Rachel’s story underpins recent research that found that supermarkets are not doing enough to tackle obesity by promoting unhealthy products.
The Health on the Shelf report, conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and Slimming World, exposes the marketing tactics used to drive sales of unhealthy products and reveals that supermarket layout, pricing strategies and the current shopping environment are fuelling the obesity epidemic.
Emma, a Slimming World consultant for the Saturday morning group in St Columbkille’s church hall, says members learn that, with back-up and guidance, they can make better food choices and feel empowered to adapt their shopping routines to ensure they are eating a healthy, balanced diet.
She said: “Being overweight not only impacts on people’s physical health, it can also impact on overall mental and emotional wellbeing and happiness.
“At Slimming World, we believe people should have the flexibility to enjoy a variety of food and drink choices and we equip our members to intuitively make healthier choices so that they can lose weight and maintain it.”
To find out more about the Rutherglen Saturday morning Slimming World group, call Emma on 07956 054016 or visit www. slimmingworld.co.uk to find your nearest group.