My Journey with Slimming on Referral by Nikki Sly

My Journey with ‘Slimming on Referral’ by Nikki Sly

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t overweight. My whole life feels like a battle with obesity and I think it is fair to say that I can only count on one hand the times I have felt good about myself and the way I look. When I started nursing, the long and unsocial shift work meant that I was snacking more and take-outs were a frequent quick meal at the end of a busy shift. I tried many a “quick fix” diet, but still the weight failed to shift. It wasn’t until working as a Practice Nurse, with my weight almost tipping 18 stone and my son being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes that it really struck me just how unhealthy I had become. Trying to give healthy eating advice to patients felt so hypocritical – how could I advise them and be a good example when I was living proof of how not to eat? So when the slimming-on-referral scheme landed in my lap at work, I decided that I should take advantage of the scheme and be one of the first to use the 12-week free Slimming World vouchers. Walking through those doors to my local slimming group felt like one of the hardest things ever, but my consultant and her Friday morning group made me feel so welcome that I have never looked back. The Slimming World way of eating is so easy to follow and so plentiful – how can you go wrong? At the end of my 12 weeks I had lost almost 2 stone and had achieved my Club 10. My parents were so pleased with how well I was doing and how focused I had become that they treated me to 12-week countdowns as Christmas, birthday and Easter presents, which has helped me to continue my journey. I have now lost almost 4 stone, and although this has taken me 2 years to achieve, in this same time I have referred approximately 50-60 of my patients and several of my colleagues to Slimming World using the voucher scheme. I am proud to say that a good few of them have gone on to achieve their own target weights. Even my screensaver at work shows my “before and after” weight loss photos, which often prompts conversation with my patients some of whom have been encouraged to start their own weight loss journey. I now no longer feel like a hypocrite when discussing healthy eating because my patients can see the results that my lifestyle changes have made to me. Slimming World has made me feel more comfortable around food and I now no longer feel “panicked” if I have a bad day as I know I can get straight back on plan the following day and be in control of my weight loss. On holidays, I follow the extra easy plan allowing myself a few extra syns (flexible syns) to account for any cheeky treats I may have. I love now experimenting with food recipes to make them more slimming world friendly. A family favourite of ours is curry night, with Beef Rogan Josh, Bombay Aloo (my son’s favourite) and Chicken Biriani, all with a large side salad. If I ever feel peckish in the evening, I love rustling up some slimming world chips/wedges with roasted carrot sticks and homemade houmous as a quick dip – it feels naughty but it’s all on plan on extra easy/green days. I have so much more energy for life now and have a new confidence to wear clothes that flatter my new figure, whereas before I would hide behind baggy tops and leggings.