A mum-of-two lost 140lbs after vowing to change her life when she suffered a stroke at home, and her 14-year-old son came home to find her unconscious. Nicola Bower joined Slimming World after being told her weight was a contributing factor to the stroke - as she weighed 22stone.
Nicola, 50, said: “My son Ben, who was 14 at the time, returned from school to find me lying on the bed unconscious. An ambulance was called and it turned out I'd had a stroke. I was in hospital for a week, I couldn't speak and I had no sensation down my right-hand side.
"Results of tests showed that I had a hole in my heart and needed surgery. Although everything went OK with the operation, I knew that being overweight had been a contributing factor to the stroke.
“I was horrified that my son – and my whole family, in fact – had to go through such an ordeal though. Having lost my own mum when she was just 43, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving my children without theirs."
Nicola Bower has since lost 10st after the dreadful ordeal (Image: Slimming World)
Nicola had struggled with her weight since childhood and spent years dieting as an adult, reports YorkshireLive. She decided to join Slimming World after a leaflet landed on her doorstep.
Nicola said: “As soon as I walked in, my fears went away, and I was put at ease as everyone was so welcoming. Although I was one of the biggest people there, 12 other people joined the same week and that united us immediately. As I heard my consultant, Lori, talk about the plan and the support that surrounded it, I remember thinking, ‘this could actually work’.
"I felt like finally there was something that could fit in with my lifestyle – and it has. In a year, I lost 10st and the biggest achievement for me is I’ve kept the weight off ever since."
Nicola has cut out butter and uses low-fat sprays - and says she never feels like she is missing out.
Nicola and husband Richard (Image: Slimming World)
She added: "I cook from scratch now, I’ve cut out butter and I use low calorie cooking spray instead of oil. I never feel like I’m missing out though, I’ve just adapted the way I shop and cook.
"We’re quite a sociable family so we’ll often visit the local pub or enjoy meals out with friends and none of that has had to stop. I can still socialise and lose weight! Instead of drinking lager and lime or cider, I’ve swapped to gin and when we eat at a restaurant, I swap out the chips for a jacket potato and salad with my steak."
She said: "I would often struggle and end up out of breath when walking the dogs. Slimming World has a physical activity support programme called Body Magic which inspired and helped me start to get more active. I did it gradually, at my own pace and I’ve taken up cycling. Now my daily bike ride can see me cycling anything between 10 and 20 miles.
“Losing weight has meant I can now enjoy more time with my husband Richard as we cycle together, as well as walking more with my children Ben, 23, and Molly, 21. I love getting out in the fresh air and it’s incredible the sense of achievement I get once I’ve been out.
“A year after joining Slimming World and 10st lighter, I’d completely turned my life around."
She added: "I’ve gone from a size 24 to a size 12 and I have so much more energy. Being healthier has given me a new zest for life and I’m over the moon that I can say yes to the things I love and still lose weight.”
