Peterborough couple lose almost 15st and reverse type 2 diabetes

They felt lost, alone and overwhelmed by conflicting weight loss advice. Not knowing where to start and believing they would never lose weight, Michael and Karen joined Scott’s Hampton group and said they knew within moments that they would reach her weight loss goal there.

They took that first step, and joined the Hampton groups and found their sense of self restored – their motivation was jump-started, their hope, self-confidence and self-belief came flooding back. It had them believing in themselves and their ability to reach their weight loss goals, for good!

Karen who's now lost 5st.10.5lbs was type 2 diabetic and needed to do something and Michael who's now lost 9.3 wanted to support her.

It was a really big step to walk through those doors in January 2024. We were both nervous, but within minutes that started to change. Learning about the real food we could eat, the strategies and thinking time we’d get each week in group, the knowledge we’d build and seeing other members around us picking up 3, 4, 5 stone awards. We bounced out of the room that day with a confidence and a belief in ourselves that we hadn’t felt for years. The accountability of the weekly group is important for us and with the encouragement of our Consultant and the other members, we were able to stay committed week after week.” and we’ve never looked back.

“It’s true to say I’d disappeared inside myself. Because of my weight – and how many times I’d tried and failed to lose it – my confidence was on the floor. It stopped me from doing lots of everyday stuff. Says Karen.

I felt my life was on pause and I was struggling to see a way out of it. And then we heard about the Slimming World Group in Hampton and had seen others successes and we decided we would give it a try, Michael adds.

We knew from that first group that our pause buttons had switched to play! We immediately felt welcomed and not judged. We saw the success other members were achieving and that gave us hope that we could do the same. And the belief our Consultant had in us was like nothing we’d ever felt before – it felt like we’d come home Says Karen.

We’ve always tried to lose weight on our own and not get on very well. We now realise that the support, understanding and friendship of others who know what you’re going through – that’s what was so vital for our success. Michael said ‘I feel like I’ve found myself again’ – and I’m holding on to him for good.”

Consultant Scott Smith said "The rising cost of obesity in the UK has soared from £58bn in 2020 to £98bn, with two thirds of adults living with overweight or obesity. Studies show children living with obesity are approximately 5 times more likely to become adults living with obesity, and this is the first generation where children will pre-decease their parents because of weight-related problems. The nation is in a fight for weight loss.

Yet, there is a much bigger battle – for self. People who want to lose weight are increasingly feeling lost, desperate and hopeless – their self-confidence and self-belief that anything can help them, worn away.

For many, this lack of hope and desperation for a quick solution could make the allure of the new ‘magic bullet’ weight loss injections even stronger. The costs are high. Painful and expensive weekly injections, with side-effects of diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, vomiting and more. Growing evidence that weight regain is very likely once people stop injecting. For many, lack of appetite removes the pleasure from eating and socialising. And the long-term safety of the regulated drugs is still unknown.

Within the already deafening weight loss arena, weight loss injections add even more confusion, contradiction and uncertainty. The personal conviction and self-determination of people living with overweight and obesity depletes further, so I am so glad that Michael and Karen found the courage to walk through my Slimming World door.