Pensioner Maureen's new lease of life after shedding 11 stone

Maureen Bedford, (71), from Whittlesey, is now looking forward to trying scuba diving after shedding the pounds following her health scare in January last year.

She had been clinically obese for three decades, but now has gone from a dress size 32 to a 14 since joining Slimming World in March last year, and she said: “I never could have dreamt that I’d be in this position when I first began my weight loss journey.

“Losing weight has made such a big difference to me. My health is better, I have more energy, I’m happier and I feel more comfortable in my own skin. I am now even learning to swim and I dream of scuba diving one day. I have lost 11 stone and have achieved my target along with a life I love and adore.”

Before starting her weight loss journey, Maureen suffered from many long term ailments such as high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and sleep Apnea, and needed a wheelchair or walking sticks to get round.

Maureen joined her local Slimming World in Whittlesey with husband Paul - who himself managed to lose six stone - after getting him membership for his birthday.

She managed to lose seven and a half pounds in her first week with the group, and now enjoys walking and swimming.

Now, having lost so much weight, she urged others to do the same, for their own health benefits. She said: “I feel like a different woman to the one who walked into Slimming World 18 months ago. I remember feeling like there was no hope when it came to my weight, but I’ve realised that when people believe in you – and you believe in yourself – you can do anything you set your mind to.

“I really hope my weight loss can inspire other people to get started on their own journey, and know that there’s a whole group of people waiting to support them every step of the way – especially at the Whittlesey morning group. My goal now is to stay at my target weight for life, which I know I can do.”

Gemma Lee who runs the Whittlesey morning group says ‘I remember the first time I spoke to Maureen on the phone in March 2017 when she told me that she had been ill, she had been clinically obese for the last thirty years but once she started to recover she had decided to give something back to the NHS and wanted to prolong her life.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Maureen, she has inspired so many of our local community to join a group.

“Maureen is an asset to our group and to see how much this has had an impact on her general wellness and health is humbling.

“She’s a huge inspiration to everyone in our group and I hope she inspires other women – and men – in Whittlesey to change their lives in the same way.”