15/03/2026
At 5ft 4 and 17st heavier than he is today, Graham Baalham’s nights were once terrifying. 😱
The 55-year-old window cleaner would jolt awake up to seven times a night, gasping for breath, panicking as his windpipe seemed to close up. 🥱🌙
Rather than getting a good night's sleep he’d end up hanging his head out of the bedroom window or sleeping upright in a chair for hours.
His wife, Belinda, was so frightened by his snoring and repeated breathing pauses she became convinced he had sleep apnoea.
Looking back, Graham says: “I can honestly say that if I hadn’t joined Slimming World, I don’t believe I’d have lived to see 60.”
Before losing weight, Graham says he was constantly exhausted, lethargic and barely able to walk a mile. 🚶♂️
He says: “I avoided the doctor for years because I knew what they’d say: 'You have to lose weight'.
"Even though I’ve always worked in physical jobs – I was a groundsman and now I’m a window cleaner – and I always told myself I was fit for a big bloke, the reality was very different.
"As I got older, it became harder and harder to work the weight off. I was tired all the time.
"The real turning point came when I was in hospital for more than two weeks with a serious leg infection. The doctor drew a pen line around the infection and he told me it couldn’t spread past that mark.
"He said if the antibiotics didn’t work within 48 hours, they’d have to amputate my leg. That was it – that was the moment, I knew I’d run out of chances."
Graham’s story reflects Slimming World research showing how closely sleep and weight are linked. ⚖️💤
Slimming World’s ‘Snooze More to Lose More’ survey polled its members over the course of a week about aspects of their sleep.
The study of more than 3,000 members revealed nearly half of those who lost 15% or more of their body weight reported better sleep.
The survey showed the more weight members lost, the more likely they were to report improvements in sleep.
Before joining his local group, Graham says each Saturday watching his beloved Ipswich Town would see him regularly drink 10 pints.
He says: “I always worked hard, I was active, but food and drink was my downfall 😞
"Every afternoon around 2.30pm I’d have six bags of crisps back-to-back, followed by five or six chocolate bars. Belinda would cook a healthy meal every evening, but once everyone had settled down, they’d hear me back in the kitchen rustling the packets – it was like I couldn’t stop myself.”
Graham, from Bury St Edmunds, says: “Walking into a Slimming World group felt terrifying, but Belinda encouraged me to go and as soon as I walked through the doors, Shani, the Consultant, clocked me straight away. She was brilliant and made me feel welcome, which gave me confidence.”
He says the transformation has been life-changing: “Now, Belinda and I plan our meals together using the app. Our favourites include chicken risotto, pasta dishes, curries and the Slimming World Free Food range at Iceland.
"We recently went on an all-inclusive long weekend and I stayed on plan without feeling deprived or like I was missing out. That’s when I knew this is my new normal. The plan has become part of my everyday routine, so I ate well but stayed mindful about what I chose.
“Slimming World didn’t just help me lose weight – it taught me how to eat properly. I tried pills, exercise, everything. This is what worked. It’s given me my life back.
"Nowadays I feel like a 20-year-old. I walk up to 10 miles a day with my dog. Before, I was lucky if I managed one mile. I sleep through the night. No more gasping for air. No more sitting upright in the dark, terrified. I wake up feeling rested."
"At 55, I’ve been given a second chance. I’m not just lighter – I’m alive, awake and present. And I fully intend to be here, watching my grandchildren grow up, for many, many years to come.” 👏
