Real Success

It’s always amazing to hear stories from those who have experienced huge weight losses with the help of Slimming World and never more so than when shedding those extra pounds prevents surgery and saves lives.

One special lady who has done just that to fulfil her weight loss dream is Penny Melly, who this month was crowned Slimming World’s Woman of the Year 2008.

Just 18 months ago, mum of four Penny was just weeks away from gastric band surgery. Years of weight-related health problems, including asthma, high blood pressure and high cholesterol – not helped by her smoking, had left her unable to work, depressed and immobile. Then a leaflet inviting her to join a local Slimming World group dropped through her door and transformed her life.

“I’d tried lots of diets over the years, but they always left me hungry. I’d begun to think that having a gastric band was the only option left to me. But the day before my appointment with the specialist, I saw the leaflet on the mat.”

With her health deteriorating day by day, Penny was willing to try anything to get her life back. At her lowest point she was admitted to hospital with a serious lung infection and was given just a 30 per cent chance of survival.

“I was put on a respirator in intensive care,” Penny explained. “I was so poorly that my family was called to my bedside and they were told to expect the worst. I pulled through but when we got home my six year old daughter asked the heartbreaking question: ‘Mummy, if you go to heaven can I come too?’

“I knew I had to take action and the thought of joining Slimming World appealed to me far more than the prospect of going under the knife,” says Penny.

“When I realised that the local group was close enough to be able to walk the short distance from home without too much pain I thought it was worth one last try. I knew about Slimming World and the fact that you could eat as much Free Food as you like – fresh foods like fruit and veg, lean meat and fish, pasta, rice and potatoes – but it just seemed to good to be true.”

“I was scared and embarrassed when I first got to group at Westcliff on Sea but my apprehension melted away when I walked in and saw so many friendly faces.”

After just one week of Food Optimising Penny had lost half a stone and for the first

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time in years she felt optimistic about
the future.

“That week I ate more than I had before and I continued to lose weight successfully, even on six steroids a day.”

Within a year Penny had lost eight and a half stones and she’d stopped smoking.

“My family have supported me every step of the way and we eat the same healthy meals most of the time. Slimming World taught me to enjoy fresh food I’d not even heard of before and the family Food Optimise without even knowing it. My partner has even lost two stones!

“After 20 years of being overweight and suffering ill health I finally feel free – I do everything for myself instead of relying on others. I’m enjoying all the things that I’ve spent so long watching other people do like cycling, swimming and dancing.“

Now Penny weighs less than half her starting weight and feels as though she’s been given a new lease of life. “I’ll never go back to my old eating habits, I love my wonderful new life too much. Previously I only existed, now I’m actually living.”

Click here to view the inspirational lead-up to the final...

 

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