A BARNSLEY slimmer who transformed her life by losing three stones is using her success to shape a whole new career helping other people to achieve their weight loss dreams.
Vicky Jennings joined her local Swimming World group in Wilthorpe just over a year ago and dropped from 15 stone to 12 stone.
She has now trained as a consultant for Slimming World at the national training academy in Derbyshire.
Members are getting ready to welcome Vicky as their new consultant when she takes over the group on July 27.
The latest government figures reveal that around one in four adults are obese and it’s estimated that, by 2034, this will increase to one in three.
Figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities show 70.9 per cent of those aged over 18 in Barnsley were overweight or living with obesity by the end of last year.
Vicky said: “When I first joined Slimming World as a member, I never dreamed that I would end up helping other people to lose weight but now I just can’t wait to get started.
“After losing three stone and completing my training, it’s a privilege for me to be able to pass on the experience, insight and understanding that helped me, so that I can give my members the support they need to get to target.
“Support is really the most important thing.
“It all starts with feeling that you’re not alone.
“I couldn’t have lost three stone without the weekly help, encouragement and understanding of my own consultant and group.
“As someone who has lost weight myself I know the challenges people can face, which is why, along with the group, I will be there to support every one of my members all the way to their chosen target weight.
“Like a lot of slimmers, I had tried to lose weight so many times before by following numerous diets but they were never sustainable because I’d always get tired of restricting what I ate.
“I thought I was destined to struggle with my weight for the rest of my life, but when I came to Slimming World it was different.
“The eating plan encourages you to eat lots of tasty, filling foods like pasta, rice, potatoes and lean meat and fish, you are never hungry and no foods are banned so there’s no deprivation.”
Vicky’s Slimming World group will be held at Emmanuel Methodist Church on Huddersfield Road every Thursday at 5.30pm and 7pm starting from July 27.