Donna spent years yo-yo dieting before joining her local Slimming World group in April 1995 and losing a sensational 70lbs. She's maintained her amazing weight-loss for 16 amazing years!
Mom-of-two Donna says: “I’d always been overweight, even though I played a lot of sport at high-school, but after having my two boys (now 20 and 18) I was the most overweight I'd ever been. I tried almost every diet going but nothing worked long-term and my weight went up and down.
“It was a comment my mom made that finally led me to Slimming World. The whole family was gathered around watching a home movie of me and my sons playing in the garden and my mom said: “Donna, look at the size of your butt!” It was the kind of comment only a mother could get away with and I was mortified, but I had to admit – as always – my mom was right. Needless to say, I joined a group the very next week.
"It was actually my mom that convinced me to give Slimming World a go, she'd been talking to a woman who was a member and came home raving about it. Slimming World members choose their own personal target weight – the weight at which they feel most healthy and comfortable. And members who slim down to their target can attend any Slimming World group free of charge as long as they stay within 3lbs of their chosen weight – who wouldn't want to tell their friends about that!
At Slimming World I learnt that healthy eating and regular activity are the only way to long term success. But it's the support of the other members of the group that's always helped me to stay focused.
“I lost 70lbs and shrunk five dress sizes, and I’m delighted to say that for the first time in my entire life I proved my mom wrong – no big butt in sight! Even after 16 years at target being slim is still a fabulous feeling. I’m proof that Slimming World isn’t a quick fix; it’s a change in behavior for life. I’ve found it easy to stay at my target because Food Optimising fits in with the family, I don’t have to cook separate meals or feel that I’m being deprived because nothing is banned."
For Donna being active is as important as eating well, she goes to the gym and swims every morning. She says: "Before I lost weight I did no exercise at all. Now it's the start to my day, it makes me feel alive and kicking and ready to motivate everyone in my groups."