Feeling tired, sluggish and heavy as she headed towards her 40th birthday, Leanne Bell was determined to make a change.
She was tired of having no confidence and "didn't feel sexy", adding that she would hide her size 22 figure under baggy trousers and big T-shirts. But the mum-of-one who once used clothes to hide is today beaming with confidence as she celebrates her 40th birthday in a stunning leopard print mini dress after shedding six stone and discovering a happier and healthier lifestyle.
Leanne, from Gateshead, said: "I felt as I moved towards being 40 that I wanted to make sure I was healthy and active and fit so that I'm going into my middle years both healthy but also comfortable in my own skin and able to do all the activities I'm interested in."
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The software consultant added: "I feel like I can walk taller and I feel better about myself and more sure of myself now. Previously I always thought that people would be judging me just off what I looked like, even before I opened my mouth. But now because I think I look half decent, I feel like I don't need to worry so much."
To celebrate her 40th Birthday, Leanne has booked a microlight flying experience, which she explained she would have weighed too much for before loosing weight. She added that she is also looking into trying additional adrenaline-boosting activities, including zip wiring, and she can now cycle to work in 20 minutes, which once used to take her 30 minutes.
Leanne said: "These are things I always would have liked to have done but I would have been over the weight limit, so to be able to do them now is great. I wouldn't have had those opportunities before so losing weight has opened up so much stuff that I'm able to do now."
She added: "I feel like I have overhauled my life and now I can live a more motivated and balanced lifestyle. I've learnt moderation."
Leanne slimmed from a size 22 to a size 12-14 after joining Slimming World in October 2021. She explained that she has found the group to be very supportive and has now joined the social team, which has helped her get to know all the members and she's love sharing tips and advice.
Slimming World said that recent research carried out for the organisation found that feeling connected in a group of kind and understanding people, who care about your success and positively support you to succeed, makes all the difference when you are trying to lose weight, and highlights the slimming power of social connection.
In a poll of members of Slimming World’s 7,700 community weight loss groups, three in four people who joined a Slimming World group said they were more confident and self-assured (74%) as a result. They had also made new friends (73%), felt more connected (68%) and, crucially, 93% of Slimming World members felt committed to their weight loss.
Slimming World, who commissioned the research by Censuswide, said the findings show that providing opportunities for real-life connection with others, in a powerfully motivating weight loss group setting, is key to stemming the tide of the obesity epidemic and provides the authentic sense of belonging that people are searching for.
Since joining Slimming World Leanne explains that she has learnt to enjoy foods in moderation and has "never felt deprived". And now she has won Slimming World's Woman of the Year 2022 award.
Leanne said: "Mid week I wasn't too bad. I've always loved my fruit and veg anyway but weekends [I was eating] lots of fattier foods like cheese, things cooked in oil, processed foods, crisps, sweets chocolate and higher calorie alcoholic drinks like cider and all in large quantities, such as a sharing bag of crisps, a full family size bar of chocolate, full big bag of Haribo etc."
Leanne, who attends a Slimming World group at Dunston Activity Centre, added: "[Now I eat] lots of fruit and veg same as before. Less bread, cereal and cheese products – sticking to healthy extra amounts and using them to their maximum fulfilment. [I eat] meals made up with pasta, brown rice, potatoes, lean meats and other protein sources like tofu.
"I've cut out processed foods – normally I allow myself one meal of processed foods per week so that I don't feel like I'm missing out. Controlled amounts of 'treats', like chocolate and measured amounts of alcohol and only on one weekend night.
"I've never felt deprived as I always have treats every week just not the amounts as before."
"I don't have indigestion anymore. I have Improved sleep and energy levels. I'm setting a good example for my eight-year-old son with healthy eating but still allowing treats."
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