“Choosing life - My Slimming World Journey”

My name is Nicola and this is my Slimming World story.

There are moments in life when everything stops.

For me, that moment came in 2024 and again in 2025 when blood clots on my lungs left me dangerously unwell. The second one, frighteningly close to my heart, was a wake‑up call I couldn’t ignore. Doctors told me that if I’d waited any longer to go to hospital, my story might have ended very differently.

It was blunt, it was terrifying, and it was the truth: I wasn’t ready to die.

And that’s when everything changed.

Thanks to a 12‑week free referral through One You Lincolnshire, I walked through the doors of my local Slimming World group Ermine Tuesday in September 2025. Rebecca was the Consultant at the time, and although she was leaving, she told me about the new Consultant who would be taking over and that was Jenny. Two weeks later, I met her… and that’s when my journey truly began.

From day one, Jenny and the members wrapped me in support I didn’t even realise I needed. I’d worried about judgement who wouldn’t? but it never came. Instead, I found laughter, honesty, shared ideas, and a room full of people who understood what it meant to want better for themselves.

There’s something special about a Slimming World group: the mix of fun and seriousness, the way everyone lifts each other up, the freedom to be vulnerable without fear. I felt it instantly.

Today, I’m over 5 stone lighter and still going.

I plan my meals, I write everything down (even when I’ve gone over my swips), and I’ve learned that progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about choosing yourself, again and again.

The Health Benefits I Never Expected

Losing weight has changed so much more than the number on the scales.

I feel lighter in my body, yes but also in my mind, my breathing, my energy, and my confidence.

Some of the biggest changes have been the simplest:

• Easier movement — everyday things like walking upstairs, getting out of the car, or carrying shopping no longer leave me breathless.

• Better lung health — after everything I went through, feeling my chest open more easily and breathing more freely is a gift I don’t take for granted.

• More energy — I don’t need to “psych myself up” for basic tasks anymore; I just get up and do them.

• Improved circulation — moving more and eating well has helped me feel warmer, steadier, and more in control of my health.

• A calmer mind — gentle movement, even a short walk or a few minutes of stretching, has become a way to reset my mood and clear my head.

What surprises me most is how small movements the kind Slimming World celebrates have made such a big difference.

A walk around the block.

A few minutes of stretching.

Choosing to move my body because it feels good, not because I “should”.

Those little choices have added up to a life that feels easier, brighter, and more possible.

A Future I’m Excited to Live

Most importantly, I’ve learned that I can do this.

Because I’m not doing it alone.

I can’t thank Jenny enough for her support, her encouragement, and the belief she’s helped me build in myself. She and the group have changed my life in ways I’ll never forget.

This isn’t the end of my journey.

But for the first time in a long time, I know I’m walking toward a future I’m excited to live.