Sisters’ 22st transformation for wedding day
· Sisters Anne and Sam from Essex have lost more than 22st (139.7kg) between them after starting their journey ahead of Anne’s wedding
· The support of each other, their Slimming World Consultant Susan Simpson and the group helped them stay on track after the heartbreak of losing their Dad
· They now enjoy healthier versions of their favourite meals, attend fitness classes and are the active hands-on mums they always wanted to be
· Now the sisters have won Slimming World’s Two Together competition, a competition that celebrates duos who’ve lost weight together in one of the organisation’s 13,000 groups.
For the sisters, Anne getting engaged became the spark for change. With the wedding in mind, the two joined their local Slimming World group in Chadwell St Mary determined to take back control of their health once and for all. Anne says: “A lot of our friends had been successful at Slimming World and when we saw that they were eating real, tasty food and losing weight we decided to give it a go. We were nervous when we first walked through the doors, but we didn’t need to be. Our weight was kept confidential, which was something we’d worried about, and we were made to feel welcome from the get-go.”
Sadly, just six weeks later tragedy struck when their dad Todd passed away. Sam, who’s since lost an astounding 11st, dropping from 21st 7lbs to 10st 7lbs, says: “It was an incredibly difficult time for us, and we could’ve easily used it as a reason to give in but continuing with Slimming World gave us purpose. Being part of group helped us cope and stay on track, and being in control of our weight when life didn’t feel very in control really helped. We know our dad would be so proud of us.”
Their mum Jane has also played a big role in cheering them on: “She calls us every single week after our Slimming World group to ask how we’ve got on,” says Sam. “She’s our biggest cheerleader.”
Anne, who’s lost an incredible 11st 3.5lbs in total, after going from 22st 4.5lbs to 11st 1lb, says while their bond has been key to their journey, they couldn’t have done it without their local Slimming World group and their Consultant, Susan Simpson. She says: “Our group became a safe space where we could talk about any potential hurdles that might be coming up and how we could work around them, like prepping our food or planning ahead in busy times. It’s a place where there’s never any judgement. I find being in the group helps to keep me accountable and sets me up for a successful week ahead. It’s not just about you though, you learn so much from the other members – often the challenges they share are things you’ve experienced or worried about too, so you learn from how they handle them and feel less alone. We’ve made friends for life there. We laugh, we cry, and we lift each other up.”
Being part of group helped us to stay on track, and being in control of our weight when life didn’t feel very in control really helped.
Anne and Sam followed Slimming World’s Food Optimising plan, which empowers members to enjoy everyday foods like pasta, potatoes, fruit, lean meats and more – all without counting calories or feeling restricted. Anne continues: “We still eat satisfying meals. It doesn’t feel like a diet – it just feels like we’ve learned how to eat well now. Our meals are always a healthy balance of carbs, protein and fibre and are packed full of goodness.”
As the weight started to come off the sisters started to think about becoming more active Sam says: “In the beginning, we weren’t even thinking about exercising – it felt far too daunting, but Susan explained the huge list of benefits to being active on top of supporting our weight loss, like improving our mental wellbeing and getting stronger. Slimming World’s Body Magic programme was perfect for us as it’s all about building up at a pace that’s right for you and we loved that it didn’t mean we had to go to the gym every day, which wouldn’t have been right for us at all. Talking about the ways other people in our group had found to move more removed some of the fears we had and we realised being active is something everyone can do – you’ve just got to find the right activity. We started with short walks and then discovered trampolining fitness classes, which we love. We never thought we’d enjoy exercise, but now we genuinely look forward to it!”
When Anne’s big day arrived in November 2023, both sisters felt confident and ready to celebrate everything they’d achieved. Anne says: “Walking down the aisle with Sam beside me felt like a dream come true, not just because I was getting married – but because we’d worked so hard to become the healthiest, happiest versions of ourselves.”
Susan Simpson, their Slimming World Consultant, says she’s been moved and inspired by the sisters’ dedication and positivity: “Anne and Sam are such a special part of our group. They show up every week with kindness, humour and determination – even during the hardest times. Watching them grow in confidence and become such inspirational members in group has been incredible. I was honoured to be invited to Anne’s wedding, it was such a beautiful day and seeing them both beam with pride made it truly unforgettable.”
Now, with a newfound confidence and zest for life the sisters say they feel like completely different people – both physically and emotionally. They are the active mums they always wanted to be and are looking forward to a happy and healthy future together with their families.
You can hear more about Sam and Anne's story here
Group: Anne and Samantha attend the Chadwell-St-Mary group, Saturday morning Slimming World group run by Consultant Susan Simpson.
Samantha Monk:
Starting weight: 21st 7lbs (137.8kg)
Weight loss: 11st (69.8kg)
Weight now: 10st 7lbs (67.9kg)
Height: 5ft 5in
Joining date: 13th August 2022
Date achieved target: 21st December 2024
Age: 39
Before menu:
Breakfast: 2 slices of white thick cut toast with lots of butter. A croissant and energy drink
Lunch: Sandwich using thick cut white bread and with butter, ham, cheese, coleslaw and lots of salad cream. Chocolate bar, crisps and a muller corner yogurt.
Dinner: Frozen pizza, frozen chips, onion rings and garlic bread.
Snacks: chocolate bar. 2 cherry Bakewells, large bag of sweets. Share bag of Doritos with a whole pot of sour cream dip.
After menu:
Breakfast: Ham, cheese, onion and mushroom egg muffins
Lunch: Chicken and bacon pasta, packed with salad - lettuce, cucumber, onion, peppers, grated carrot, beetroot, and cheese. With a homemade dressing.
Dinner: Beef strip ramen noodle bowl with boiled eggs, packed with veg - mushrooms, spring onions, baby corn, cabbage and mangetout.
Snacks: A pack of baked crisps. 2 Slimming World Hi-fi bars, Muller light yogurt, and a small chocolate bar.
Anne Clarke
Starting weight: 22st 4.5lbs (142.2kg)
Weight loss: 11st 3.5lbs (71.7kg)
Weight now: 11st 1lb (70.4kg)
Height: 5ft 4.5in
Joining date: 20th August 2022
Date achieved target: 15th Feb 2025
Age: 41
Before menu:
Breakfast: 3 crumpets with lots of butter and marmite. A croissant and energy drink
Lunch: 2 white rolls with cheese, ham, lettuce and mayo, crisps, a cake, pork pie
Dinner: Chicken Kiev, chips, baked beans and onion rings
Snacks: Multiple chocolate bars, share bag of crisps with a dip, cake and a share bag of chocolate
After menu:
Breakfast: Ham and eggs
Lunch: Slimming World wraps filled with turkey slices and grated carrot. 2 boiled eggs, cucumber, beetroot.
Dinner: Homemade sweet and sour-style chicken, mash, peppers, mushrooms and courgette.
Snacks: Light vanilla yogurt, roast chicken bites, Slimming World Hi-fi bar, chocolate bar, fresh fruit.
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