Local busy mum started again ... This time for the last time

My name is Tabitha, I have trained as a consultant for Slimming World at the Head Office in Derbyshire, I am now relaunching the Slimming World group in Eglinton Community Centre Thursday evenings 5.30pm and 7.00pm, commencing April 24.

I am a mum of four who is always on the go. I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. I have been a serial dieter. I first joined slimming world when my first baby was born 13 years ago.

I lacked confidence and I didn’t feel good about myself. Because of this, anytime I went to weigh in and had a gain, I would leave early, go home and hide.

After a month or two, I would pluck up the courage and join again, and again, and again.

I had struggled for years, had lost all hope but gained a lot of weight, was exhausted and in pain.

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I was diagnosed with gallstones and had frequent episodes of extreme pain.

I tried everything, I even went to extreme measures and went and had weight loss surgery.

I lost a lot of weight, but still didn’t feel that good about myself and felt that this was only temporary for me. I still had an uneducated mindset when it came to food and ended up making all the wrong choices and slowly but surely gaining a lot back on.

With daily appointments, school runs, housework and 2 part time jobs I needed to grab and go however, I was grabbing the healthier choices – or so I thought.

I got pregnant and I wanted to make the right food choices for the baby. Unfortunately I had lost my previous baby due to malnutrition and the lack of the correct vitamins and was determined that this time I would learn to eat the right things and eat enough for the baby. I was also determined that I wouldn’t gain as much as I had in my previous pregnancies.

So, I joined slimming world – Again! But little did I know that this time would be the last time. This time was different.

I was an expectant mother who unfortunately developed gestational diabetes, I gained a stone and a half in my pregnancy – safely! Managed my diabetes well and in 16 months I have never had a flair up with my gallstones.

I managed to lose the stone and a half I gained during my pregnancy bringing my total loss with slimming world to 4stone 10 ½lb. With slimming world I learned how to food optimise, how to make the right choices, I made family favourites like lasagne, cottage pie, Pizza and chips.

As a family we shop on plan, not only is it healthier for us but healthier for our budget. I still enjoy my treats using my syns but this time I do not feel one bit of guilt. The best about it is I never feel hungry.

The group I attend myself is a huge part of my social life, they make me feel comfortable and confident. They make me feel like family and I have never weighed in and ran away to hide.

I face it no matter what the scales say with no judgement just encouragement and genuine support. I am so glad I joined again … this time for the last time!

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