Belinda Flynn, aged 55, a production worker at Pecorama, joined the Thursday Sidmouth Slimming World group on the 9th January 2020 and reached her dream target weight on the 26th November 2020 after losing just over an incredible 5 stone!

Belinda, who is 5ft 2, has gone from a size 12-14 to a size 6-8. Her starting weight was 13st 1lb and she has reached her target weight of 8 stone.

Before joining Slimming World and at her heaviest weight Belinda was constantly feeling very tired and was getting pain in her feet and in her knees. She was finding it very painful to walk, was becoming breathless walking up hills and struggled to walk her dogs. She had become ashamed of what she looked like and would walk her dogs at night so people didn't see her.

Sadly Belinda lost her mother in 2011 and her father in 2015 which caused a lot of stress and upset. In 2011 she also gave up smoking and turned to sweets and junk food instead of smoking, these then became a habit.

Belinda lost two stone on her own for her son's wedding in 2016, but was unable to sustain her weight loss on her own. She then gained another three stone and the old habits began to slip back in again.

It started to get to the point where Belinda just didn't want to go out. She had now also become a grandparent and wanted to be able to play with her grandson. She wanted to be able to run around with him and be able to get off the floor without struggling. To push him up the hill on a walk in the buggy, without getting breathless or having pain in her feet and her knees.

The turning point for Belinda

Belinda's doctor advised her that the foot and knee pain was being caused because of her weight gain. Belinda had never joined a slimming organisation before, but knew doing it on her own just wasn't sustainable - but was feeling very nervous and embarrassed about joining a slimming group on her own and thought she would be the only overweight person there. A colleague at work mentioned that one of the other girls at work was a member of Slimming World. So she went and spoke to her and on the spur of the moment went along that evening with her to Slimming World to join and has never looked back.

When Belinda arrived she immediately felt at ease, everyone was so friendly and welcoming. The group is there to support you so you never feel alone, everyone is always there if you need anything. It's not a diet, it is a lifestyle change, nothing is banned and you never go feeling hungry with all those delicious free foods to fill up on.

Before joining Slimming World Belinda's favourite foods were pies and pasties! Now she enjoys her 'One Pots' which she makes herself by throwing everything in one pot like chicken, vegetables, any free foods she has available. Also making her own soups with butternut squash, beans and pulses to really bulk them out and fill you up. She adds spices for extra flavour and uses a lot of frozen vegetables too - so quick and easy, the list is endless!

Since losing her weight Belinda hasn't looked back! Belinda's husband, son and daughter in law have been very encouraging throughout her journey and are so proud of everything that she has achieved. They think that she has done amazing and she is back to her old self. She has even encouraged her husband, Simon to lose some weight too!

It is now so much easier to move around, and walking up the steep hill at Pecorama is a breeze! She is no longer tired and the pain in her feet and her knees have gone. She is able to be active with her 17 month old grandson and walk her dogs now in the daylight, as her confidence has grown and overall she feels absolutely amazing. Belinda used to love cycling so her aim is to now get back on to her bike again!

For further information on joining the Sidmouth Slimming World group please contact Harriet on 07828 299391.