Slimming World helped Gaywood bride-to-be shed six stones in weight

A slimmer from Gaywood who lost six stones in 2020 is looking forward to her wedding in September when she will be able to feel "like a princess" on her special day.

Poppy Stainsby, joined Slimming World's sessions at the Gaywood Churchrooms in January last year and that, together with lockdown, enabled the 24-year-old to start losing the pounds.

Poppy, who works for the NHS, said she had struggled with her weight since she was able to drive because she would regularly travel to McDonald’s and "was just reckless" about what she was consuming.

"The amount I ate started to increase when I was around 20 in different office jobs. I noticed I was putting weight on as I was less active, sitting down all day, and this is when the vicious cycle of binge eating began," she said.

The weight gain affected her health, too, and she also experienced low self-esteem. She said: "At my heaviest I was 18 stone and alongside the back pain and breathlessness I was told I was borderline diabetic and my weight had caused lots of cysts to form on my ovaries."

However with guidance from Slimming World and the "amazing" support of her consultant, Lisa Moore, she made lifestyle changes and became more active, taking up running, walking and workouts.

"The back pain and breathlessness have gone and the cysts on my ovaries have greatly improved too," she said.

"Lockdown really helped because the weather was good at that time and I was going for three and four-mile walks each day and had lots of workouts in the garden."

Poppy's final decision to join Slimming World was because she had her wedding day to look forward to and she wanted to look "like a princess" on her special day. She is due to marry her fiance, Jamie, in September.

"Since losing weight I feel like a different person. A lot of people have noticed and I feel as though there is inner glow in me now. I have so much more confidence," she said.

"When I returned to work after the first lockdown five stone lighter, my colleagues didn’t recognise me, they thought they had a new team member! My confidence has soared and I can’t wait to feeling amazing on my wedding day. I have my dress and fit comfortably into a size 10 this was a huge goal of mine and I look forward to that dream coming true."