A woman lost 149lbs in a year and says she still got to eat everything she wanted. Samantha Cobb decided to do something about her weight last year and joined Slimming World.
Samantha, 49, has now been crowned as her group's "greatest loser". She says the secret was still eating what she wanted - just smaller portions - and adding vegetables to her plate, reports EssexLive.
Samantha said: "It was more health issues than anything, and I thought it was about time I kicked myself into order and get something sorted about it.
"I've always heard Slimming World were really good, so I contacted Heidi, my consultant and she invited me along to one of the groups, and I've been every week now since the beginning of February last year. It was quite scary to start off with as I didn't know what the people were like, and what I would have to do, but they're the nicest group of people you could actually think of having with you for support.
"They actually enrolled my husband in July, so he's doing it with me. It's nice you don't have to stick to what you have to eat, you can have what you like; roast dinners, spaghetti bolognese, curries, everything. You can still have that on the plan from Slimming World.
Samantha Cobb before and after her ten stone weight loss (Image: Samantha Cobb)
"You can eat what you like within reason - not the crisps or chocolate and that, but with the plan I'm on you can have what you like meal-wise, but moderate it so you have loads of vegetables with it, you can have numerous amount of veg on plan, as much as you like.
"Pasta you can eat as much as you like of, and then moderate it with portion sizes, which I didn't do before I started. I found it quite easy - I know some people find it difficult but instead of cutting things out moderately, I cut out all that I shouldn't have at once. I didn't miss it when I started the journey."
She added: "I've lost a lot more than I thought; I thought I would only lose about five stone within the first year, and I've doubled it. I'm now five pounds off my 11 stone mark. I'm halfway through my journey, but I'm staying with Slimming World when I get to my target weight.
(Image: Samantha Cobb)
"I think the secret is try to have as much vegetables as you can with your meals, because they're classed at Slimming World as speed food, as they help you lose the weight quicker. It fills you up a lot quicker.
"I've known people that have been there for four or five years, and when they get to their target weight, they stay for the support of the group, to get support from all the other members. Plus, you can bounce ideas and recipes off other people as well.
"I'm feeling really good about it now, I've lost so much. I've had my ups and downs as does anyone, times where I've wanted to just throw it all in, but then Heidi will say 'look at what you've done, you don't want to throw that all away'."
