Real Success

Kirsty Davies, from Chester lost 4st 12lbs to become bubbly and sociable – and now she’s feeling fantastic! Kirsty shares her story with us…

“I was an easy target for bullies when I was at school. Because we moved house a few times I was always the overweight new girl and the taunts soon started. I’d try to make the most of myself, but even at a young age I was squeezing into frumpy size-14 jeans. I’d secretly comfort myself with chocolate, and the more I was bullied, the more I ate.

“Things improved when I started my A-levels and met my now fiancé, Nigel, at college. After A-levels, I began university. I embraced the student lifestyle of getting up late, skipping breakfast and grabbing a sandwich and fizzy drink on my way to lectures. Dinner was a quick pastie, or I’d head straight out for a huge pub meal or pizza. My slim housemates would stress over the odd pound they’d gained, but my waistline was positively bulging. I’d sit in front of my full-length mirror rather than stand because I hated the way I looked, especially my stomach and thighs. Not even dying my hair purple could disguise the fact I’d put on 2st in my first year. I felt so miserable, and honestly considered packing it all in.

“When I talked to Nigel about how unhappy I was, he told me his mum had lost weight with Slimming World, so I found my local group. I went along ages before the meeting was due to start, thinking that at least then, if I was turned away, no one would notice! I needn’t have worried. I was given a cuppa while I waited. The eating plan all sounded too good to be true, but I knew I had to give it a go.

“My housemate Rachel’s eyebrows shot through the roof later that week when she saw me tucking into a massive steak, with melted cheese, a large salad and Slimming World chips. She couldn’t get her head around it! She was even more stunned when I lost 6lbs in my first week, despite eating stacks of food.

My confidence soared. So much so that Rachel and I joined the university snowboarding team – I’d never have dared do anything like that before. It soon got easier, and, as each half stone melted away, it felt as if I’d had a personality change, I was so much bubblier and more sociable."

“By the time we broke up for summer the following year, I’d lost 3st. I joined Debbie’s Colwyn Bay group for the summer holiday, which kept my motivation high, and the tips I picked up during her Image Therapy sessions were invaluable.

“When I went back to university for the start of my final year – one year after signing up for Slimming World – I was 4st lighter. Rejoining the snowboarding team, I overheard fellow students arguing over whether or not it was actually me!

“My new figure has taken some getting used to – especially my legs, which I don’t hide any more. Finding fabulous clothes is much easier nowadays. As for sitting down at the full-length mirror – these days I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved, I stand in front of it with my head held high. I really feel amazing, and it’s all thanks to Slimming World.”