A woman is totally unrecognisable after losing nine stone in a complete transformation after finding climbing the stairs at home too difficult.
Ann Crew, 75, visited her eldest daughter Lucy at Christmas a few years ago who lives away in Lancashire. After not seeing her for a while due to work commitments, Ann was shocked when her daughter opened the door to see she had lost almost three stone.
"What a difference it made, she looked amazing," said Ann, whose daughter then encouraged her to start on a Slimming World programme, especially as she weighed over 19 stone at the time and had been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.
Her daughter did some research to get her started by finding her local group at home in Bridgend. She said: "I sat in on the introductory talk and listened carefully, but thought at the time it was a lot of information to absorb. I need not have worried though. When I read the introductory pack carefully, I decided it was, as my daughter had said, easy enough to follow.
"Since then, I have not looked back. I have made changes to the foods I eat. I no longer eat things like biscuits, bread and cake or pies. I still eat potatoes and two small slices of wholemeal bread, but I tend to avoid other foods which are high in carbohydrates. I certainly don’t go hungry as I may eat my fill of healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables as well as meat, though with the latter I now tend to eat less of that and more fish."
Ann set herself the target of losing nine stone and two pounds, to get down to 10 stone over a period of two years.
"My first weight loss was not huge, but it was encouraging. I lost 3 lbs in my first week. Since then I've had an occasional weight loss of around 3 lbs but more frequently, the losses were 1lb or even 1/2lb. However, I was not doing it for a quick fix. I was in it for the long haul. It took me two years and eight months to achieve my target weight with a total loss of 9 stone and 2 lbs and I was absolutely delighted."
Ann said once she got started and the weight was slowly dropping off it was easy to keep going. She cooked cottage pies, rich beef stews, homity pie and a favourite - stoved chicken. Now I eat a lot of fish with vegetables. If it swims, I eat it. This helps with my weight maintenance."
Since her weight loss Ann has gone from being a diabetic with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, taking medication for all three and being in constant pain with her knee, to being totally pain and medication free.
She said: "I also attend a gym twice a week to keep active. My energy levels have increased so much and I am now able to do the things that were beyond my capabilities when I was carrying so much excess weight.
"In the mornings before my weight loss I would wake up and get ready for the day and do everything I needed to do upstairs before coming down stairs and I wouldn't go back upstairs then until bed time as I was finding even climbing the stairs too difficult."
Ann continues to attend the weekly group as she has made friends with the people there. She said: "The people in the group are so friendly and we all encourage each other. This means I am able to remain within my target range, with all its added benefits."
Ann's slimming World consultant is Anne-Marie Lloyd who runs two classes at the Westward Community Centre, Cefn Glas, Bridgend at 5.30pm each Tuesday, but provides help or advice to any individuals who may be struggling if they contact her during the week.
Anne-Marie said: "Ann is such a dedicated, committed target member who has been on such an incredible personal journey. She attends our group every week and is such an inspiration for all our members, in particular our new members.
"The smile on her after photograph just says it all. She is so beautiful on the outside and inside. Ann shows to others who may feel that they have such a long journey ahead of them that you can achieve anything you want to. Dream, believe and achieve.
"Yes losing weight will take time, effort, commitment and dedication which Ann has by the bucket full. I am here ready and waiting to support anyone who would like to join us. We look forward to welcoming you. I will support you all the way to your dream target weights too, just like Ann. Right now I am so incredibly proud of Ann. Well done sweetheart."
