Alison’s confidence soars after 11st (70kg) weight loss
A former dinner lady from Hebburn is flying high after ticking an item off her bucket list by completing a wing walk following her 11st (70kg) weight loss.
Alison Berry, 67, completed the 1,000ft challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK to celebrate the active lifestyle she’s able to lead as a result of her inspirational weight loss. The once-in-a-lifetime experience allowed grandmother Alison to see how far she’s come on her weight loss journey as she no longer fears being above weight restrictions.
Weighing more than 22st (140kg) at her heaviest, Alison felt exhausted all the time and struggled with everyday tasks such as clipping her toenails. She recalls taking her family to a fairground and having to get off a ride as the safety harness wouldn’t securely fit. She spent the remainder of the day out feeling embarrassed and staying off the attractions to look after everyone’s bags.
In 2013 Alison was hospitalised for three weeks because her kidneys were failing due to her diverticulitis (a condition affecting the large intestine). Doctors advised losing weight to help with her recovery but Alison didn’t see how it would be possible. She’d tried multiple diets over the years, including calorie counting, meal-replacement shakes and diet pills, and always found herself in a cycle of losing a couple of pounds and then putting them back on, and more.
However, when her daughter-in-law Abby showed Alison a magazine story about a woman who’d lost weight with Slimming World she decided to join her local group. Alison says: “I always dreamt of a life where I could do daring activities but I felt stuck. I couldn’t see a way out of being overweight and thought it was just how I was meant to be. I’m so grateful to Abby as that article changed everything. I joined my local group when I was 55, determined to be living a much happier and healthier life for when I reached my 60s.”
Alison followed Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, which gave her the knowledge and skills to make changes to the way she ate and, with the support of her Slimming World group, she’s since lost 11st (70kg).
After losing half of her body weight and reaching her target weight, Alison has the energy to run around after her two grandchildren and walk her rescue dog Mitch. She’s also embarked on a mission to tick off bucket list activities she’d have loved to complete in her youth, including walking on fire, abseiling out of a wind turbine and riding the UK’s longest zipwire.
Alison says: “I’m so pleased I made the decision to join my Slimming World group as it has allowed me to live this exciting life and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my fellow group members and Consultant. Slimming World isn’t just about changing the way you eat, it’s about becoming part of a group who help you to understand yourself and believe in yourself. People at Slimming World believed in me before I believed in myself, they’ve cheered me on every step of my journey and are always so supportive when I take on these daredevil challenges for charity.”
Despite already achieving inspirational milestones, Alison was determined to also take on a wing walk to embrace the freedom of being alone on the wing and leaving behind the fears and limitations that had once held her back.
Joining Slimming World at 55 and losing 11st has taught me that it’s never too late. And doing a wing walk at 67 is proof of that too. Nothing can top the feeling of being free up in the sky.
Money raised for Alison’s wing walk will support Cancer Research UK. To donate, visit: Alison’s JustGiving page