26
May
2023
|
01:01
Europe/Amsterdam

Mum-of-two loses 10st after stroke

Dog walker Nicola Bower lost 10st with her local Slimming World group in Sheffield after realising her weight was a contributing factor to the devastating stroke she experienced.

Nicola Bower stitch

Nicola, 50, who weighed 22st at her heaviest, says: “When I was 41, my son Ben, who was 14 at the time, returned from school to find me lying on the bed unconscious. An ambulance was called and it turned out I'd had a stroke. I was in hospital for a week, I couldn't speak and I had no sensation down my right-hand side. Results of tests showed that I had a hole in my heart and needed surgery. Although everything went okay with the operation, I knew that being overweight had been a contributing factor to the stroke.

“I was horrified that my son – and my whole family, in fact – had to go through such an ordeal though. Having lost my own mum when she was just 43, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving my children without theirs. 

“I’d struggled with my weight since childhood and, being a yo-yo dieter as an adult, I’d tried many times on my own to lose weight. It would work for a bit, then I’d put the weight back on as I’d feel restricted and unable to eat the foods I love. I knew what I needed was a long-term solution not a quick fix.

“The answer didn’t come straight away but when a Slimming World leaflet came through my door just after Christmas, I decided to join my local group that January. 

“Even though I desperately wanted to make a change, I was scared. So much so that I actually didn’t go that first week, it took another seven days for me to pluck up enough courage. I went the following week, and I’m so glad I did! As soon as I walked in, my fears went away, and I was put at ease as everyone was so welcoming.

“Although I was one of the biggest people there, 12 other people joined the same week and that united us immediately. As I heard my  Consultant, Lori, talk about the plan and the support that surrounded it, I remember thinking, ‘this could actually work’! I felt like finally there was something that could fit in with my lifestyle – and it has. In a year, I lost 10st and the biggest achievement for me is I’ve kept the weight off ever since .

Nicola Bower, Slimming World member

“Perhaps the biggest surprise for me about joining Slimming World is that I never expected to meet so many lovely people. As well as Lori, it’s the other members who keep me motivated  - and we share amazing recipe ideas! I’ve made new friends and the support we give each other is unreal. Nobody judges you, you’re all there for the same reason, and you’re there with people who understand the challenges in trying to lose weight – and the joys when you do. I use the Slimming World app daily and the barcode scanner is so useful and such a time-saver when I’m out shopping.

Nicola Bower, Slimming World member
Nicola Bower

“What I find incredible about the Slimming World plan is the fact that you can eat the foods you love, never go hungry and still lose weight. It’s so flexible. I cook from scratch now, I’ve cut out butter and I use low calorie cooking spray instead of oil. I never feel like I’m missing out though, I’ve just adapted the way I shop and cook. We’re quite a sociable family so we’ll often visit the local pub or enjoy meals out with friends and none of that has had to stop. I can still socialise and lose weight! Instead of drinking lager and lime or cider, I’ve swapped to gin and when we eat at a restaurant, I swap out the chips for a jacket potato and salad with my steak. 

“Since losing weight, I’ve been able to walk further and found simple things like going up the stairs or getting up off the settee much easier. Sheffield is a very hilly city and before joining Slimming World, I would often struggle and end up out of breath when walking the dogs.

Slimming World has a physical activity support programme called Body Magic which inspired and helped me start to get more active. I did it gradually, at my own pace and I’ve taken up cycling. Now my daily bike ride can see me cycling anything between 10 and 20 miles! 

“Losing weight has meant I can now enjoy more time with my husband Richard as we cycle together, as well as walking more with my children Ben, 23, and Molly, 21. I love getting out in the fresh air and it’s incredible the sense of achievement I get once I’ve been out. 

“Just a year after joining Slimming World and 10st lighter, I’d completely turned my life around. Five years later I’m still so proud of what I’ve achieved. I’ve gone from a size 24 to a size 12 and I have so much more energy.  Being healthier has given me a new zest for life and I’m over the moon that I can say yes to the things I love and still lose weight.” 

“Nicola is truly inspirational and loved by everyone in group.  If a member is struggling on their weight loss journey, Nicola always has a cheery word of encouragement as she knows how vital the support of others can be. We ask Nicola for her expertise regularly in group to help other members. She’s a great advocate of Body Magic and walks for miles. Nicola has a quiet determination – you could see she believed in the Slimming World plan and made changes to her lifestyle from the start so I was never in any doubt that she would achieve what she has.  I'm so incredibly proud of Nicola and feel extremely privileged to call her a friend.”

Lori Kitchin, Slimming World Consultant
Carolyn Pallister, Nutrition and Health Policy Manager

“Nicola has achieved so much! She’s clearly embraced her new habits and is reaping the benefits of a healthier future. Carrying excess weight increases your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes which all contribute to higher stroke risk. This puts being overweight as one of the top 10 risk factors for stroke. As well as losing 10st and reducing her risk of stroke, Nicola’s incredibly inspiring story shows how the warmth, understanding and personalised support she found in her local Slimming World group also helped her to make some great friends and discover the benefits of getting more active, at her own pace – and she’s still eating the foods she loves!”

Carolyn Pallister, Nutrition and Health Policy Manager
IMG-20230509-WA0004

Nicola attends the Stanwood Slimming World group run by Consultant Lori Kitchin. For more information or to find your nearest group, visit slimmingworld.co.uk.

Nicola Bower

Starting weight: 22st 5lbs

Weight lost: 10st

Height: 5ft 8in

BEFORE

Breakfast: Either nothing or white toast with butter

Lunch: Sandwiches and crisps 

Dinner: Shop bought chicken Kiev with cheese or steak pie and mash made with butter or spaghetti Bolognese, made from a jar of sauce, garlic bread

Snacks: Crisps, biscuits

Drinks: Sugary fizzy drinks

AFTER

Breakfast: Fresh fruit with low-fat yoghurt or porridge

Lunch: Homemade soup or ham or crabstick salad with Slimming World chips

Dinner: Slimming World spaghetti Bolognese with salad

Snacks: Fruit, grapes, apples, low calorie yoghurt, low fat crisps or low-calorie jelly

Drinks: Water

About Slimming World

Slimming World was founded by Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE in Derbyshire in 1969 and has become the UK and Ireland’s leading weight loss organisation with more people choosing to attend a Slimming World group each week than any other weight loss programme. We support hundreds of thousands of people, both in our groups and online, to lose weight and to adopt new habits to stay slim for life.

Over the years our founding principles haven’t changed:

·         Our unique programme is based on a powerfully motivating support system called IMAGE (Individual Motivation and Group Experience) Therapy. Underpinned by a deep understanding of the psychology of overweight people, and incorporating the most effective sustainable behaviour change techniques, IMAGE Therapy is designed to inspire and motivate slimmers to make positive changes and to develop new, healthier habits around food and activity.

·         Food Optimising is our healthy eating plan, based on the liberating concept of Free Food. We encourage our members to fill up on those foods that are naturally lower in energy density (calories per gram) and also highly satisfying while limiting foods that are highest in fat and sugar and are less satisfying, so they lose weight without ever feeling hungry or deprived and without having to weigh, measure or count everything they eat. 

·         Our activity support programme, Body Magic helps members to overcome any barriers around activity. Members choose when to start and they set the pace, finding activities they genuinely enjoy, until regular physical activity becomes an intrinsic part of their daily routine. 

At the heart of everything we do lies our passion for treating every member with genuine care, empathy and respect.

We’re proud to work with the NHS, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), The Royal College of Midwives and others to help shape the future of weight management in the UK and Ireland.

For more information about Slimming World’s approach visit slimmingworld.co.uk or slimmingworld.ie

Follow Slimming World on Twitter at twitter.com/slimmingworld or become a Slimming World fan on Facebook at facebook.com/slimmingworld

For the Press Office visit our newsroom or email public.relations@slimmingworld.co.uk