For years, my worth felt tied to the number on the scale. It didn’t matter what I achieved academically or professionally—if I was overweight, it felt like none of it counted. I tried every diet imaginable: Slimming World, Weight Watchers, fasting, two-day dieting. I’d see success, sometimes significant weight loss, but it never lasted. The wheels would eventually come off, and I’d end up heavier than before. Every failure reinforced the idea that I was just destined to be overweight, so why not eat everything in sight?

I knew diets weren’t the answer—I had figured that out. But what I didn’t know was what to do instead. I had given up on actively dieting before I found Slimpod, but by then, I was the heaviest I had ever been. Even walking my dog—our newly adopted rescue—was painful. Just taking him up the road to the playing field hurt my back, ankles, and knees. I was stuck, knowing I needed a change but unsure how to make one.

A New Way Forward

Then came Slimpod. My journey has been gradual, and I’m still carrying some extra weight, but the difference is staggering. I am no longer classified as clinically obese, I have gone from a size 22 to 16. I now walk my dog for at least 45 minutes a day, sometimes two hours. We live in one of the highest villages in England, so our walks are filled with hills, but I no longer dread them. I pop in my AirPods, listen to podcasts or audiobooks, and we just go for miles. The aches and pains that once made movement unbearable? They’ve faded into the background. 

The biggest shift, though, has been in my mindset around food. I don’t obsess over it anymore. If I’m not hungry, I don’t eat. If I wake up starving, I have breakfast. There are no more rigid rules, no more guilt. I work from home most days, which gives me the flexibility to eat when I genuinely need to, rather than just because it’s “lunchtime.” That freedom has been a revelation.

Do I still stress-eat sometimes? Yes. Life still throws its curveballs. But now, I recognise it when I do. Someone in the Slimpod group once suggested sitting with the feeling instead of immediately reaching for food. That simple shift has been life-changing. I now ask myself, “Will eating this actually solve the problem?” Most of the time, the answer is no. And when I do choose to eat something, it’s a conscious decision, not a mindless reaction.

Shifting the Narrative

The biggest revelation has been realising that I never actually wanted to be thin—I just thought I had to be. I spent so much of my life trying to shrink myself to meet other people’s expectations. But now? It’s not about fitting into a smaller size; it’s about being the fittest and healthiest version of myself. My husband has never pressured me about my weight. He just wants me to be well, to be active, to share a long and healthy life together. And I owe that to myself too.

I had my son at 40, which means I’ll likely be an older grandmother one day. I want to be there for him, to be able to run around with future grandchildren, to keep up with my husband and friends on long walks. That’s my goal—not an arbitrary dress size, not an unrealistic ideal.

I don’t put my life on hold anymore. So many people say, “I’ll do that when I lose weight,” but not me. I go belly dancing, wear the costumes, and embrace every opportunity. The belly dancing community is so supportive and body-positive—it’s been a beautiful reminder that I can enjoy life exactly as I am.

Ditching the Diet Mentality for Good

I used to be obsessed with the scales, but I’ve stepped away from them. Weight fluctuates—it’s natural. I lost quite a bit initially, then gained some back after celebrating my wedding, a honeymoon, and Christmas. But instead of spiraling into guilt, I just picked back up where I left off. I keep listening to the Slimpod recordings, stay active, and trust the process. And you know what? The weight is coming off again, gradually and naturally.

Even on holiday, staying with my nephew in Australia (whose partner is a chef!), I didn’t panic. I enjoyed the experience without catastrophising. It’s not about what you do on special occasions; it’s about the choices you make on normal days that shape your health in the long run.

One of my most unexpected but proudest changes? I used to drink three cans of Diet Coke a day. Now, I don’t touch the stuff. I drink water, the occasional coffee, and I actually crave fresh, wholesome foods. I’ve even taken on the challenge of eating 30 different plant-based foods a week—something that makes me feel amazing from the inside out.

The Power of Taking Back Control

Slimpod didn’t just help me lose weight; it gave me back control. I no longer feel powerless around food. I don’t eat in secret anymore because there’s nothing to hide. There’s no “naughty” food, no “cheating.” There’s just me, making choices that serve me, rather than feeling trapped in a cycle of guilt and restriction.

This is the freedom I never thought I’d have. It’s not about chasing perfection—it’s about making choices that align with how I want to feel. And that’s the most empowering thing of all. You don’t have to be at war with food or your body. You don’t have to wait until you’re a certain size to start living your life. Take back control, start making choices for you, and trust that the changes will come. You truly CAN take back control.