A couple who attend the Hatfield Slimming World group have revealed how they lost eight stone between them in 2023.
Colin Hamilton joined his wife Liz as a group member at the start of last year, having struggled with recent deaths of both parents.
Both he and Liz have made an incredible transformation, losing four stone each in just 12 months.
"Before I would eat takeaways, and sometimes multiple times a week," he said.
"We have switched to healthier burgers and sausages with wholemeal rolls. We'll do chips homemade now with fry light, but generally we'll stick to meat and veg, pasta with homemade bolognese, or salads for our dinners.
"We rediscovered fresh food too. There were lots of Slimming World free food that I liked, including snacks to keep me full during the day.
"I was happy cooking meals and soon started to lose weight, and I found the benefits of writing a food diary initially while learning to adapt to the plan."
Despite some initial reservations about joining the group, Colin believes the support of other members has been key in his weight-loss success.
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"At the start, I was anxious about joining the group, but I found the other group members to be very supportive and I learned a lot of helpful hints and tips," he said.
Colin had stopped running, one of his favourite hobbies, following the death of his parents, but he has now taken up the activity again and is planning to run a marathon later this year - his first since 2020.
Dr Amanda Avery, health and research consultant dietitian at Slimming World, added: "Being part of a community where you’ll meet other people on the same journey who share their ideas, experiences and advice has been shown to help keep motivation high.
"There is no need to give up your favourite foods or miss out on the pleasure they bring you though – it’s just about finding new ways to prepare and cook the meals you love.
"Within Slimming World groups members receive in-depth expert support, led by a consultant who’s lost weight on the programme themselves, to reshape the way they think about food and activity."
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