Abigail Adabanka, 28, is an occupational therapist. She lives in Kingston, London, with her husband Joseph, and their children, Kayden, four, and Ariah, two
Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself to help a patient into a hoist. I knew that by the end of my long shift on the hospital orthopaedic ward, my back would be in agony, my knees aching, and even bending down would feel painful.
As an occupational therapist, it was my job to help patients with disabilities to adapt to day-to-day tasks, yet here I was struggling to get through the day myself. I’d been a size 10 until falling pregnant with Kayden, when I’d craved chocolate cake and double portions of my favourite African chicken dishes.
Afterwards, the baby weight never went, and in time I had trouble fitting into a size-18 uniform. I’d been born with a knee condition called patella alta, which makes them less stable and prone to dislocation, but for years it hadn’t been a problem.
Now, with my weight adding to the pressure, the pain would take my breath away.
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When I fell pregnant with my daughter, I was determined not to eat for two this time, and stayed around the same weight.
Then, not long after Ariah was born, I was at a Christmas party when a woman came up to me and announced: “You’re bigger than your husband. You look yuck”.
I just about held it together until I got home, then sobbed in Joseph’s arms.
In January 2019, a Slimming World leaflet fell through my door.
Back home after my first group, spurred on by all I’d heard, I discovered I could still enjoy my favourite family dishes, such as coconut chicken curry, by frying skinless chicken breast in coconut flavour low-calorie spray oil, adding canned tomatoes, quark and 2tbsp reduced-fat coconut milk, peppers and mushrooms, and serving it with broccoli and brown rice. I got busy making chicken pasta bakes, tasty vegetable-based soups, and lean ham and mushroom omelettes.
As the weight came off my knees hurt less, and I could chase after Kayden and Ariah. Then I started cycling to work and doing circuit training classes.
I moved to London and transferred to a specialist ward at Kingston Hospital, where I treat patients with heart problems, and help people with Covid-19 to rehabilitate.
Now, as I start my shift on the busy ward, I hit the ground running, full of energy, to help my patients.
Working through the pandemic hasn’t been easy, but I put on that uniform every day feeling proud of myself – and I’m up for any challenge.
Abigail's fact file
Height: 5ft 6in
Weight before: 15st 12lb
Weight after: 11st 5lb
Total lost: 4st 7lb
'I’m no longer living on borrowed time'
Phil Peck, 55, is a warehousing and transport general manager. He lives in Levington, Suffolk, with his wife Jo.
No sooner had I closed my eyes than I was fast asleep. The only thing was – I was at work. As a manager for a busy transport and warehouse company, my lunchtime power nap was the only way I could get through my working day without falling asleep on the job.
At nearly 26st, just getting around wore me out, and I used snacks to keep me going – sausage rolls, chocolate, and four takeaway burgers followed by two apple pies and a milkshake. Then I’d go home to toad-in-the-hole and chocolate or sponge pudding with custard.
My wife Jo and I would laugh that our only real hobby was eating, and it did seem funny at the time. Then in 2017, after a holiday to Las Vegas, I had a heart attack and needed surgery to insert three stents.
Afterwards I became very low and I turned to food for comfort. Soon I couldn’t bend down to tie my shoelaces. When my doctor took my blood pressure and found it was dangerously high, he warned if I wanted to live a long life, I needed to lose weight. Jo, who had been to Slimming World in the past, suggested we join together.
In August 2019, weighing 25st 11 ½ lb, I attended my first group. I’d barely eaten vegetables before, but it soon felt strange not to have salad or veg with my dinner. I lost 13 ½ lb in the first week, which didn’t seem possible. We carried on and by September last year, Jo had reached her target weight of 10st and I had a 34in waist – down from 60in.
As my weight went down, weekends were spent taking our grandkids on bike rides, and I started roller blading and going to the gym.
When everyone started shopping online during the pandemic, work got really busy.
So it was just as well I was no longer fighting to keep my eyes open, and could make sure all the goods that passed through our company were headed in the right direction.
Last October I hit my target weight of 13st 10lb. Now I cycle six miles to work and back each day, and you should see me moving around the warehouse at high speed. I no longer worry I’m living on borrowed time – instead I’m making plans for a future with Jo I had never dreamed possible.
Phil's fact file
Height: 6ft 2in
Weight before: 25st 11½lb
Weight after: 13st 10lb
Total lost: 11st 13lb
Patients notice how much energy I have
Beki Ware, 30, is an emergency medical technician, and is also training to become a nurse. She lives with her partner, Rhys, in Redruth, Cornwall
All day I’d been dashing from one patient to another, taking bloods and checking temperatures, supporting nurses. I’d just been promoted from a healthcare support worker to an emergency medical technician at a busy hospital, and on top of that I’d been accepted on to a nursing course.
Reaching my target weight the previous summer had given me the confidence to believe I could go for my dream career. And it came at a time when the NHS needed all hands on deck.
Three years earlier I was working as an NVQ health and social care assessor. Being on the road a lot, I never found time for lunch, and by evening I was ravenous, filling up on pizza or ready-meal chilli. It took every ounce of strength just to get out of bed.
Having fibromyalgia, which causes pain all over your body, and the effect of the medication I took, meant I got tired quickly, and my weight wasn’t helping. I felt miserable, my self-esteem at rock bottom. I desperately wanted to retrain as a nurse, but didn’t believe I could.
In January 2018, after a relationship break-up, a friend took me to Slimming World. I’d already convinced myself it wouldn’t work. I’d tried everything else – how would this be different?
Finding out I could eat filling, tasty meals that worked around my hectic lifestyle boosted my confidence. When I didn’t have time for breakfast, I’d keep Slimming World high-fibre bars on hand, then have pasta salads for lunch and home-made chilli for dinner.
When I met my partner Rhys, I was 2st 7lb lighter and had the confidence to apply for my first job in the NHS. After losing 5st I was able to come off medication for fibromyalgia.
When I was promoted last April, I was so grateful to be in good health, especially as the pandemic hit. At 5st heavier there was no way I could have stayed on my feet for 13-hour shifts, running up and down a ward in PPE. I feel like a different person. The patients comment on my bubbly personality and boundless energy, and I know it’s down to losing weight. I feel so lucky to be able to make a difference.
Beki's fact file
Height: 5ft 6in
Weight before: 15st 1lb
Weight now: 10st 1lb
Total lost: 5st
- Stories originally told in Slimming World Magazine. The May/June issue is available to buy on newsstands from tomorrow. All Slimming World members can contact their Consultant to receive a free digital copy.
- The health information in these stories is intended to provide general knowledge and should not be used to replace the advice given by your healthcare team.
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You can find your nearest Slimming World group at slimmingworld.co.uk or by calling 0344 897 8000. Please contact your local Consultant to book in before your first Slimming World group and to find out about Slimming World’s virtual groups.
