02/05/2022
🤩WOW - JENNY LOOKS INCREDIBLE🤩
A carer who lost 31lbs during lockdown to reach her target weight and a total weight loss of 17st has been named Slimming World’s Woman of the Year. Jenny Irons 46 from Clacton-on-Sea has dropped an incredible 12 dress sizes and gone from 27st 5lbs to 10st 5lbs
Jenny joined Slimming World in September 2018 when she went along solely to provide moral support to her sister. She says: “I had absolutely no intention of getting involved. I was just trying to be a good sister, but months later I realised my sister had actually been the one joining to help me all along!”
Jenny’s weight had yo-yoed for decades and she’d seen her size steadily creep up after she went through a marriage break-up, was made redundant and experienced financial difficulties including having to sell her house. Feeling at rock bottom, she turned to food for comfort: “Things really got on top of me, the depression kicked in and I was in a really bad place – the only thing that made me feel better was food. I had absolutely no confidence. I would go to the supermarket at 10pm at night or 5am in the morning so that no one would see me, I wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone and I hid my body in baggy clothes. It was a very lonely place.”
Weighing 27st 5lbs and wearing a size 34, her health also began to suffer as she struggled with chest and foot pain, experienced frequent headaches and would get out of breath walking even short distances. So, when Jenny went along to her local Slimming World group she had no faith that it would make a difference to her size. However, as she followed the organisation’s Food Optimising eating plan, she slowly began to change her mindset.
“With the various diets I’d tried before, I really felt like I was on a diet and I hated the milkshakes – I want to be able to chew my food! That’s what I love about about Food Optimising – you can still enjoy all your favourite meals like spaghetti Bolognese or curry, just cooked in a different way and you don’t feel like you’re on a diet at all. Eating meals with people has always been a way of socialising for me, and – when we’re not in lockdown – I love that I can cook a delicious, healthy meal for my friends and family that we can all enjoy together.”
As the weeks went by and Jenny’s weight went down, she began to get excited about what she could achieve. Jenny says: “I was petrified when I first walked through the doors of the group, my head was swimming with questions: ‘Will I be the biggest one there?’, ‘Will the scales be able to take my weight?’ ‘Will everyone ask me how much I weigh?’ Thankfully it was nothing like that at all. There were people there of all shapes and sizes and everyone was so helpful and friendly, and, most importantly, we were all there for the same reason. My group are like family now and my Consultant Carole who runs the group is wonderful – she genuinely cares and that makes a big difference.
“There have been difficult weeks, where things haven’t gone how I’ve wanted and I’ve thought ‘What’s the point?’ but the group have always been there to encourage me. Without fail, I come away from the sessions with lots of ideas and strategies to overcome whatever challenge I’m facing because so many other people have been there before in their journey, and I’m left feeling much more positive about the week ahead.”
After losing around 6st, Jenny was inspired by her fellow slimmers to start being more active. She says: “I felt better in myself and had the confidence to start exercising. Before, I only ever walked from my car to work – I was too scared to go any further, as I’d get out of breath easily and need to sit down. Now, I can walk for miles and if I don’t go for a walk, I start getting itchy feet – I’m the new Forrest Gump! I’ve joined a gym to help tone up, too.”
During lockdown Jenny’s group was forced to temporarily close and sessions were held virtually instead. However, Jenny didn’t let it stand in her way: “I just kept focused and concentrated on me, and I’m so pleased I did. I lost 31lbs in the first lockdown and reached my target weight of 10st 5lbs. My BMI has gone from 54 down to 22, I’ve swapped my size-34 clothes for size 10, and I just can’t stop smiling. I’m much more confident now, I don’t hide behind big baggy clothes anymore and I’d love to start dating. And now I am at my slimmest and happiest my ambition is to travel the world and do some great adventure holidays that I would never have been able to even dream of doing before.
“When I first joined Slimming World, I never thought I’d be here, 17st lighter. Sometimes I have to pinch myself and, being named Woman of the Year is like the cherry on the cake…or should I say fruit salad! My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.”
If you're ready to take that first step and start your journey why not come along to one of my groups where a warm welcome awaits you🥰
5.30 and 7.00pm on Monday's at Keyworth Methodist Church, Selby Lane, Keyworth
or
6.45pm on Thursday's at West Park Pavilion, Loughborough Road, West Bridgford
A carer who lost 31lbs during lockdown to reach her target weight and a total weight loss of 17st has been named Slimming World’s Woman of the Year. Jenny Ir...
