‘I upset my son so badly I knew I had to lose some of my 17stone fast’

A mother of five had a heart-wrenching experience that deeply affected her son and led her to embark on a weight-loss journey. Christine Connor, 66, found herself weighing 17st 4lbs, wearing size 24 clothes, and feeling unhappy with her appearance due to her reliance on ready meals in her busy life. Christine shared, “After my fifth child, I was very overweight… I put on more weight and stopped socialising… I was so embarrassed.”

Before renewing her 25th wedding anniversary vows, Christine joined Slimming World with her daughter and successfully shed five stone over 18 months. However, due to work commitments, her weight started to creep back up, leading her to gain more weight and eventually stop attending the group altogether. Her turning point came when her son gifted concert tickets, and she declined to go due to her lack of confidence, upsetting her son deeply.

Determined to make a change, Christine re-joined Slimming World, started martial arts classes with her grandchildren, signed up for a gym, and took up aerobics and Pilates. Her dedication paid off, and by 2019, she had lost a total of seven stone, weighing in at 10st 5lbs and fitting into size 10 clothes. Christine expressed her newfound confidence and happiness, attributing her success to the support from Slimming World and her commitment to exercise.

Inspired by her own transformation, Christine is now set to lead her own Slimming World group, eager to support others on their weight-loss journeys as she was supported. She emphasized the importance of staying committed and attending classes for the valuable support and understanding they provide. Christine’s story serves as a testament to the power of determination and perseverance in achieving one’s health goals.