Leanne reclaims confidence after 12-Stone milestone with Slimming World

When Leanne first walked through the doors of her local Slimming World group, she didn’t see a number on a scale - she saw a life she knew she wasn’t fully living.

Daily tasks felt heavy, her energy was low, and she found herself missing out on moments with friends and family because she was too tired or uncomfortable to join in. But on a rainy Tuesday evening, she decided something needed to change.

Leanne’s journey didn’t start with strict rules or dramatic workouts. It started with a simple choice: to eat in a way that gave her more energy and more enjoyment. With the Slimming World plan, she focused on:

More whole foods like fruits, veg, lean proteins, and delicious meals she could share with her family.

Balanced portions, not starvation or cutting out foods she loved.

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Learning about food choices instead of “good vs bad” thinking.

She says the first month felt like learning a new language -she was unlearning old habits and discovering that healthy food could be tasty and satisfying.

Leanne credits the weekly group meetings with changing how she saw herself. These weren’t fitness classes or judgement zones - they were places where people shared: Wins (big and small); Challenges and real talk about setbacks; Tips for staying motivated on tough days.

She found the encouragement made her feel seen and understood, not alone in the process.

Over the next 18 months, Leanne’s body changed - she lost 12 stone 5 lbs - but what changed even more was her confidence, energy, and relationship with food and activity.

She started: Walking more because she genuinely enjoyed it; Joining friends for events she used to skip; Celebrating every non-scale win - from better sleep to fitting into clothes she loved.

Leanne says her weight loss wasn’t the goal in itself. It became the result of consistent habits, self-care, and support.

“I didn’t want to shrink into myself - I wanted to grow out into my life,” she says. “It wasn’t fast, and it wasn’t perfect, but it was real.”

To find out more about joining your nearest group:- visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk or check out Slimming World Derry on Facebook.