24/11/2025
This is Julian’s story as to why he joined slimming world and changed his life.
If you would like to change your life for the better, why not come and join my group on Saturday mornings at Sycamore Hall, Winklebury, 7.30, 9 or 10.30
22nd July 2024, 4:30am.
I imagine most people were asleep at this time and date. I was in the resuscitation department at Basingstoke A&E with 2 doctors and 3 nurses fighting to save my life after a really bad allergic reaction closed up my airway. The overwhelming memories I have of this time was the screaming life support machines, the frantic shouting of the staff and the look of horror on my wife’s face as they all realised I was on my way out from this world.
To this day I don’t know how they pulled me back from the brink, but pull me back they did. As part of the aftercare I received from our marvellous NHS, My GP strongly urged me to lose weight. At 17’ I was morbidly obese and to help me along my way, My GP covered the first 12 weeks of slimming world.
I joined the Winklebury 8:30 group in August 2024 (later becoming the 7:30 group) I was made welcome immediately. Geoff, Gary, Maggie, Elenor, Rachel all took me into their care and offered lots of advice and encouragement. The SW Consultant, Jo, has been a constant source of encouragement and inspiration, sharing her own story and lots of advice, hints and tips, leading the group with enthusiasm and professionalism. She is always available at the end of the phone for support or just a natter.
Today, I hit target. Today I am 12” 11” having lost just over 4” in 15 months and I can honestly say I have not felt this good since my 20’s (I’m 53). I can think clearly and I have seemingly boundless energy. I’m running 5K 3 times a week and other health conditions I have had (Asthma and carpel tunnel syndrome) have almost disappeared.
What I love about SW is the fact that I have lost weight through a process of education. I’ve unlearned all the bad food habits I had, and replaced them with good habits that will see me through to the rest of my life.
I was reborn to this world on 22nd July 2024. But today I start living the rest of my life, a happy and healthy person.
Thank you SW, thank you to the consultants - Jo and Emma and Simone, thank you to the social Team and thank you to the 7:30 Winklebury group - you are all amazing.
Remember - its not the individual weeks result that counts - its the overall trend!
