Ever since Caroline Waters shed three stone after changing her eating habits, she’s found a whole new way of life.
Since turning 50, Caroline, from Cuddington, had started to struggle with controlling her weight, and a diet of pasta, chocolate biscuits and apple pie combined with a lack of exercise meant she constantly felt tired and sluggish.
Her knees ached and she developed a ‘dowager's hump’ in her upper back.
But for Caroline the crunch point came when she attended her father-in-law’s funeral.
She felt so embarrassed about her size that she kept her coat on the whole time, even though it was sweltering.
“It just wasn’t ‘me’ and that’s when I realised I had to do something,” said Caroline, a headteacher’s PA at St John Bosco Arts College in Liverpool.
“I had never tried a slimming club and had always been able to control my weight but somehow hitting 50 I lost the impetus to watch what I ate, so I joined Slimming World on my own.
“Claire and the group couldn’t have made me feel more welcome and the meetings are really fun and interesting and so supportive.”
And since joining and going from 13st6 to 10st, Caroline’s got a whole new outlook on life.
“It was really easy to follow the plan and I have never felt hungry as there is so much choice and such lovely, simple recipes,” she said.
“When tempted to eat something ‘naughty’ there is always an alternative treat that I can have.
“On occasions I’ve ‘fallen off the wagon’ when going out for a celebratory meal, I know that the day after is another day and I can get easily get back on plan whereas previously I would’ve just carried on eating unhealthy food.
“I feel fitter and have so much more energy than before and enjoy every day – Slimming World is a way of life and attending the group meetings are lovely, social occasions with an opportunity to meet really nice people who are so supportive and have great tips and ideas.”
Caroline is featured in this month’s Slimming World Magazine.