A mum of six says she feels better than ever after dropping three stone in six months. Sarah Wilkinson decided to join Slimming World in August last year after being unable to shed weight before her wedding to partner Peter in April that year.
The 48-year-old's wedding dress ended up not fitting her - so she was spurred on to prioritise her own health and happiness and start her weight loss journey. Encouraged by her friend Jo Hutchins, who had also lost weight with Slimming World, the pair started going wild swimming together and Sarah started eating better.
Just over six months after joining her local Slimming World club in Northallerton, Sarah had dropped from 16st 1lb to 13st. She is still hoping to lose an extra stone and a half in the next few months, TeessideLive reports.
Sarah, who is mum to six children aged between 29 and seven, says she now has so much more energy and confidence. She said her key to success was believing she could do it and she is now happier than ever.
She said: "This time last year I weighed 16st 1lb and I found it hard not being able to lose weight before my wedding, I lost a stone after the wedding after my son's graduation but then put 3lb back on. I decided I needed help and support to shift the weight for good so I joined Slimming World.
"I spend a lot of time with my friend Jo as we go wild swimming together and she'd done well on Slimming World, so I thought 'I can do this' and joined my local group. The classes are so fun and it feels like one big family supporting each other as we're all in the same boat."
The group meets at Romanby WI Hall in Northallerton and is run by consultant Lisa Martin. Since joining the group in August, Sarah has lost an impressive 3st 1lb, with sights firmly set on losing an extra stone and a half in the months to come.
Sarah added: "In June last year I found out I had high cholesterol and it's something that runs in my family so I wanted to control it without needing medication, since being on Slimming World I now have normal cholesterol levels and feel amazing.
"I fit my exercise around my family so I go on the treadmill on a morning and I recently took up swimming, the last time I swam I ended up doing 50 laps which I never would've been able to do before but I have so much more energy."
Sarah is mum to Jamie (29), twins Samuel and Jordan (23) Benjamin (18), Thomas (eight) and Emily (seven) - and cooks her Slimming World recipes for all of them to enjoy. A firm family favourite in her home is the Keema Cottage Pie - a spicy version of a classic cottage pie, with Sarah's spicy lentil soup also going down well with her big family.
Half a year into her weight loss journey, Sarah has advice for anyone looking to kick start their journeys either through Slimming World or independently. She said: "Don't hold back if you want to start, get your foot in the door.
"I’d really miss my Slimming World group if I didn’t go. You put yourself first, I used to put everybody first and now I’m prioritising myself, my friends and family have seen a massive change in me and I feel a lot better in myself too."
