{"id":3557,"date":"2023-02-28T09:38:12","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T09:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/slimmingworld.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=3557"},"modified":"2023-03-20T16:00:24","modified_gmt":"2023-03-20T16:00:24","slug":"inspire-my-accident-led-to-a-brand-new-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/inspire-my-accident-led-to-a-brand-new-life\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I\u2019m so thankful for my accident \u2013 it led to a brand-new life!\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Slipping into my size 10 graduation dress, I couldn\u2019t keep the smile off my face. Just nine months earlier, I\u2019d been a size 18 and Lycra legging were my new best friend. No one could accuse me of not throwing myself into uni life wholeheartedly and beer and curry had become the cornerstones of my diet. Then I\u2019d spotted a Slimming World banner and something clicked.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Click<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Slimming for students<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At my first group I discovered that I could still eat all those easy, cheap student staples \u2013 like pasta, rice and jacket potatoes. And I didn\u2019t have to give up alcohol, either \u2013 instead, my Consultant showed me smart swaps and social strategies that meant I could fully enjoy my final year and lose weight. That\u2019s when I first fell in love with Food Optimising \u2013 it was a revelation! I wanted to feel amazing at my graduation, and thanks to Slimming World (and that dream Topshop dress!), I did!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MORE ON THE BLOG: Slimming World recipes for students<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My slimming story hasn\u2019t always been plain sailing, though. Going from uni to the world of work, I lost my way and became a serial slimmer, stuck in a cycle of joining and leaving slimming groups while I continued to get bigger. It\u2019s obvious now that I wasn\u2019t ready to make the changes needed to lose the weight and, crucially, keep it off. Then, in 2009, my life changed overnight\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spinal surgery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I had an accident on a trampoline and damaged my spine, spending a full year bedbound while creeping up to a size 22. I needed spinal reconstruction, but my doctor refused to operate because of my size. It was the push I needed to rejoin group, and my brilliant, full of energy Consultant gave me the confidence to finally commit to change. Once I started Food Optimising 100%, the weight quickly came off \u2013 reducing my BMI from 42 to 23, with a loss of 3st 9lbs \u2013 and I could have the surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although thankfully the surgery was successful, my old office job was out of the question. Long hours sitting at a desk became impossible, and I was medically retired at the age of 30. All the dreams I\u2019d had for the career I\u2019d worked so hard for disappeared, and I felt adrift. What was I going to do with my life now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Becoming a Consultant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The perfect solution was right in front of me. Slimming World had become a real positive in my life, and I wanted to pass that on to other people. I realised that I wanted to help people make those changes, like I had, that could genuinely be life-transforming \u2013 or even life-saving. And I also wanted to share the Slimming World way of turning that tricky weight loss journey into something uplifting and full of fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once I started looking into becoming a Slimming World Consultant, things happened quite quickly. I already understood the Food Optimising plan and knew it worked, yet the training went so much deeper than that. I learnt about science, psychology and nutrition, and why Food Optimising guarantees weight loss without hunger. I started to really understand the psychology of slimming, uncovering the 52 years of expertise behind the Slimming World plan, and learnt how to deliver IMAGE Therapy (the powerful motivation and support in group that sets Slimming World apart). I also studied the challenges many slimmers face, learning how to use the Slimming World Motivational Toolkit to its full potential \u2013 and how to help a member use the right tools to overcome any obstacle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wasn\u2019t surprised to discover that members who attend group regularly lose more weight. I already knew how important that unique strand of support is, yet seeing all of the deep thinking that went into IMAGE Therapy really confirmed that it holds the key to unlocking weight loss success.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n