January 2018 – a newspaper article, a new career and the beginning of something rather special.
I came across this article from The Comet, published on 8 January 2018, and it brought back some wonderful memories of the very beginning of my Slimming World career.
At the time, I had lost almost six stone, completed my consultant training and was preparing to welcome members to my very first group at Bragbury End in Stevenage. I was excited, nervous and absolutely determined to help other people experience the changes I had experienced myself.
What I love about reading the article now is recognising how much of what I believed back then still shapes the way I work today.
It was never just about the weight
My own journey had changed so much more than the number on the scales. I had struggled with my confidence, my relationship with food and the physical discomfort that made everyday activities difficult.
I remember talking to the reporter about walking my dogs. Before losing weight, I had sometimes needed crutches because of the pain in my joints. Being able to enjoy those walks again was one of the many changes that meant so much to me.
Losing weight had given me opportunities and confidence I had not imagined when I first walked through the doors of my own Slimming World group.
The importance of support
There is something I said in that interview that I still believe just as strongly today:
“It all starts with feeling that you’re not alone.”
That was true for me as a member, and it remains central to everything I do as a consultant.
Over the years, I have seen just how powerful it can be when people come together, share their experiences, celebrate their achievements and support one another through the difficult weeks as well as the successful ones.
Our groups are about far more than weighing in. They are about building confidence, finding solutions, sharing ideas and helping people believe that change really is possible.
Nearly nine years later
Since that first group in January 2018, my Slimming World journey has taken me in directions I could never have imagined.
I have had the privilege of supporting hundreds of members, developing other consultants and celebrating some extraordinary achievements along the way.
There have been challenges, changes, plenty of learning and some very proud moments, including recognition for the success of our groups.
My own weight-loss journey eventually reached more than eight stone, but the greatest reward has been seeing what other people have achieved and knowing that I have played a small part in helping them.
Looking back at that newspaper article reminds me why I started.
The enthusiasm was there. The belief in the importance of support was there. The determination to help others was certainly there.
All these years later, those things have not changed.
Your journey could start here
If you are thinking about joining Slimming World, perhaps for the first time or perhaps after a break, I would love to welcome you.
You do not need to have everything figured out before you come along. You simply need to take that first step, and we can work on the rest together.
Who knows where your own journey might take you?
Sarah x
Read the original newspaper article
Interested in joining one of my groups?
Visit my Slimming World page for current group details and information about getting started.
