09
January
2018
|
10:00
Europe/Amsterdam

‘Miss Slinky’ Sophie waves goodbye to her ‘Bridget Jones’ knickers after losing 4st!

  • Mum-of-one Sophie used to dread seeing photographs of herself on social media and even gave up on her dream of becoming a dancer because she felt so self-conscious about her size
  • Her most embarrassing moment came when she had to dry her ‘Bridget Jones’ pants on her new boyfriend’s radiator after spilling a drink
  • The 23-year-old used to suffer from severe asthma which hospitalised her several times, now her condition is much better

Gorgeous mum-of-one Sophie Jude has said goodbye to her ‘Bridget Jones’ knickers after losing almost 4st and picking up a national slimming award thanks to her stunning transformation.

The 23-year-old skincare specialist, who used to struggle with severe asthma, has been named Slimming World’s Miss Slinky 2018. Sophie used to dread seeing pictures of herself on social media but is now bursting with confidence after dropping four dress sizes – going from a size 16 to a size 8.

Sophie, who lives with her partner Carl and one-year-old daughter Vogue in Nottingham, says: “I struggled with my weight from a young age. At school I was always the curvy girl who tried to cover my insecurities by being bubbly and loud. At the age of 14 I won a scholarship to a performing arts school in London and that’s when my weight really started to affect me. There was a lot of pressure to look a certain way and if I felt down or missed home I would comfort myself with food.

“I remember one occasion where a teacher took me outside of the classroom in front of everyone and told me that I was talented but that I needed to lose weight if I was going to make it. In the end I became so upset about my size that I gave up on my dream of becoming a dancer because I didn’t feel as though I’d ever be accepted in the industry at the size I was.”

Although Sophie tried a number of different of ways to lose weight, nothing worked in the long term and she continued to feel unhappy with her size into adulthood. She says: “I had a few embarrassing moments along the way but the one that really sticks in the mind is the night Carl and I had our second date. I ended up spilling a glass of wine on myself and had to change into some of Carl’s clothes while I dried mine on the radiator – including my big control knickers! We laugh about it now but I was mortified to have to put my big Bridget Jones pants on display!”

The final straw for Sophie came in the form of a picture taken before a night out with friends shortly after the birth of her daughter, which ‘made her heart sink’ – especially because she feared that it might be shared on social media. New research from Slimming World has found that Sophie is certainly not alone in feeling this way, with more than half of people (52%) admitting that social media photo anxiety has spoiled occasions like nights out with friends[1].

Sophie Jude, Slimming World's Miss Slinky 2018
With Slimming World I can still eat curries, pasta dishes, chocolate, wine… and even chips! It’s totally made me rethink my relationship with food. 
Sophie Jude, Slimming World's Miss Slinky 2018

She says: “I’ll never forget that photo. I remember looking at it for the first time and it broke my heart. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and I felt so vulnerable that people had this awful picture of me on their phone. I was so worried in case one of them decided to share it on social media and in that moment I knew I’d had enough – I didn’t ever want to feel that way again.”

Sophie joined the Beeston Slimming World group in September 2016 with her mum and soon found that – unlike the restrictive diets she’d tried in the past – losing weight didn’t have to mean going hungry as she could fill freely up on delicious food like pasta, potatoes, fruit, vegetables, eggs, lean meat, fish and more, which Slimming World calls Free Food.

She says: “At first I was shocked at how much I could eat while still losing weight! In the past I’ve tried every fad diet out there – from meal replacement shakes to calorie counting. None of them worked though because they just weren’t sustainable and I’d give up after a couple of weeks.

“With Slimming World I can still eat curries, pasta dishes, chocolate, wine… and even chips! It’s totally made me rethink my relationship with food and I feel so much better for it. I go to bed each night full and satisfied and I love the thought that I’m learning to cook healthy meals for my family, too.

“I was nervous about joining the group so having Mum alongside me really helped and I soon got into the swing of things. The group was so friendly and although I was upset with the number I saw on the scales that first night, I knew I was in the right place to make a change. I must admit I thought I was destined to be overweight forever, so Slimming World and the support from my mum, my Consultant and other members in the group really has shown me that anything is possible. I want people to know that if I can do it, they can too.”

On top of giving her meals a healthy makeover, Sophie has also become more active and regularly goes to the gym, as well as busily running around after her little girl. She says: “Life is just completely different now. My asthma has improved greatly since losing weight and I’m much more active – with plenty of energy to keep up with an inquisitive one-year-old! If I was still bigger I think I’d feel self-conscious taking her to soft play centres – but now I can go up and down the slides with Vogue without a care in the world.

“My confidence is sky high too – so much so that I’m going to join a local dance class. It’s been years since I performed in front of an audience and instead of dreading being on stage, I’m really looking forward to it! I used to shy away from the camera but now I have the confidence to pose for pictures with my family and friends without any worries.

“I’ve learned that social media can be a hugely positive place, too. It’s humbling that many people struggling with their weight send me messages and comment that I have inspired them to achieve their weight loss dreams. Posting pictures of my meals and transformation on Instagram has been a really big help to me on my journey and I’ve been overwhelmed by all the positivity and support I’ve received. Which is handy because, of course, I don’t need the support of my big knickers anymore!”

VITAL STATS:

Name: Sophie Jude

Age: 23

Height: 5’5”/1.65m

Starting weight: 12st 11½lbs/179½lbs/81kg

Current weight: 8st 11½lbs/123½lbs/56kg

Weight loss: 4st/56lbs/25kg

Starting dress size: 16

Current dress size: 8

Date joined Slimming World: 29th September 2016

Group: Sophie attends the Beeston group run by Consultant Margaret Burton

Before menu

Breakfast: Cup of tea with 2 sugars, big bowl of cereal and a couple of chocolate biscuits

Mid-morning: Chocolate or more biscuits

Lunch: Shop-bought baguette and a cake, or a ready meal

Mid-afternoon: Crisps

Dinner: A takeaway or ready meal

Evening: A pudding with custard every night – without fail!

After menu

Breakfast: Fruit and yogurt or porridge

Mid-morning: Fruit

Lunch: A jacket potato with salad, or a pasta dish with meat and plenty of veg

Mid-afternoon: Some seafood sticks or a Slimming World Hi-Fi bar

Dinner: Home-made spaghetti bolognaise, home-made burgers and chips or pizza wraps

Evening: Strawberries with fat-free yogurt and a meringue or a chocolate bar

– ends –

For further information please contact Lucy Knighton in the Slimming World press office on 07770807740 or email lucy.knighton@slimmingworld.co.uk

[1] https://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/press/social-media-photos-ruin-special-occasions-for-many/

Notes to Editors

Slimming World was founded by Margaret Miles-Bramwell (OBE, FRSA) in 1969. There are now more than 18,000 groups held weekly across the UK and Republic of Ireland via a network of 4,000 community-based Slimming World Consultants, who receive specific training in the role of diet and physical activity in weight management, as well as sophisticated behaviour-change techniques.

Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, is based on the science of satiety and energy density. Our phased activity programme, Body Magic, eases members into activity until it becomes an intrinsic part of their daily routine. The principles behind Slimming World’s philosophy are based on a deep understanding of the challenges faced by overweight people and a recognition that those who struggle with weight carry a double burden, the weight itself and a burden of guilt and shame about their weight. Slimming World’s programme integrates practical, up-to-date advice with a highly developed support system based on care and compassion, and Consultant training focuses on facilitating behaviour change in a warm and friendly group environment. Consultant training is delivered through the Slimming World Academy. Slimming World also invests in a comprehensive research programme to develop its support for long-term weight management. The group support provided by Slimming World is recognised as effective by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the NHS.

For more information about Slimming World’s approach visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk or call 0344 897 8000.

For the Press Office please email public.relations@slimmingworld.co.uk