How losing weight helped me gain confidence

My journey from Slimming World member to group consultant

By Carol Little-Ouchrif

I attended my first Slimming World , but from the moment I walked into the group in January 2017 after the birth of my second child. I felt nervous and uncomfortable, but I was welcomed and put at ease. I weighed 17 stone, 12 pounds.  

My motivation for losing weight was to be fit and healthy for my children. I found it hard to keep up with my 3-year-old when playing in the park, then there was a newborn to add to the equation. I had started feeling very self-conscious and I didn’t feel like going out and socialising with my friends anymore.  

As a paediatric nurse, I always felt uncomfortable talking to people about their health, and promoting healthy eating and lifestyle choices while I was overweight.  

Slimming world is about food optimising, it’s a lifestyle change and not a diet. I listened in disbelief as the consultant explained that I could eat potatoes, pasta and rice whilst still losing weight. Nothing was off limits and I could eat as much as I liked. But I was sure after many failed attempts of trying to lose weight that it would not work.  

One week later I stepped on the scales in group and I was delighted to see an 8lb loss. The whole first week I had enjoyed food and did not feel hungry once. This spurred me on and I continued to lose weight at a steady pace.  

I got to my target weight this January, losing a total of 7 stone 13lbs. I now have a new confidence and I use my experience to show people that lifestyle change is possible.  

The latest government figures reveal that around one in four adults are obese and it is estimated that by 2034, this will increase to one in three.  

I will be opening my own slimming group on Friday, 22nd November, and I can’t wait to get started. After my own weight loss, it is a privilege to be able to pass on the experience, insight and understanding that helped me.  

Support is really the most important thing. It all starts with feeling that you’re not alone. I couldn’t have lost over seven stone without the weekly help, encouragement and understanding of my own consultant and group.  

I personally know the challenges people can face, which is why, along with the group, I will be there to support every one of my members all the way to their chosen target weight. There will be tons of encouragement and fun. As a consultant it is my role to create a warm, supportive atmosphere to get people sharing their ideas and experiences in order to help others.  

I am opening my group in Tottenham as this is where I live, and it is really important to me to be able to help the community I care about deeply.