“Addiction to food made me so miserable” - Derry mum on how Slimming World saved her

Derry mum of two Liz Quigley opens up about the challenges she faced and the journey travelled with the help of her local Slimming World to reach her target weight.

Read Liz's story:-

My name is Liz Quigley and l hope you allow me to share my story

I am coming close to my 64th birthday and the road to my weight loss has been long and hard.

Clocking up 47 years of battling weight loss trying every diet and club since l was 16.

I did well a few times losing good amounts of weight but always gaining it back with a bit more, a story l know a lot of people have experienced " Yoyo dieting "...

This time it has taken me all of 12 years going up and down a bit at Slimming World. (My Saviour)

Through it all I never gained all my weight back and l knew if l stopped that this was my last chance and l couldn't let go.

So l went weekly to class and made the most amazing life long friends and the most amazing support from my leader Rhonda, without her belief in me l would have wandered again but she never let me go, to her l am forever grateful.

I had a very unhealthy relationship with food and l always said l was an addict, addiction to food made me so miserable, l hated every part of me, negativity was my friend and it kept me believing l was worthless, l was fat, ugly and no one could ever convince me other wise not even my amazing husband of 40 years.

He never in all our lives together mentioned weight it didn't matter to him and l know he was truthful now because he doesn’t and didn't treat me any differently when l lost my weight.

He and my two beautiful sons always felt sad that l felt that way about myself but l did.

So now l have lost 5 1/2 stones and l feel totally amazing, l still can't believe that l can say that, I am smiling writing it..

Going to my class every week with the best group of humans l could possibly have in my life, we give each other so much praise, help, encouragement, that gets us through a down day and a good day...My life is totally changed my food is so healthy and l would not think for a minute of changing my Slimming world shopping list.

It’s amazing and also we can have treats and the things we like within reason and counting our syns.

The old cliché which we have all heard "if l can do it you can" and so true that is.

I am target weight now for my age and how l feel and l can now wear lovely stylish clothes and not just looking like a box with clothes that just covered my body.

My starting weight, which l was horrendously ashamed of when l started Slimming World, l went that night on my own and Rhonda weighed me in and making me feel welcome, l weighed in at 19 stones l almost died seeing those numbers but Rhonda smiled and said that's OK your here you made the biggest step coming through the doors and l have never left since.

I am a target now (smiling writing this too) l cannot believe it . . . l am 13 / 7 now and still never miss class and never will l not need my SW fix every week I have good weeks and the odd small gain but get right back on it.

I never want to lose this feeling of confidence happiness, loving life...Thank you Rhonda xxx

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

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