FROM SOUTHMEAD SLIMMING WORLD
A super slimmer has been named Southmead’s Slimming World ‘Woman of the Year’ 2018 thanks to her life- changing 6 stones 8.5 pounds weight loss. Susan Potter, age 56, from Southmead has gone from 14 st 13.5 pounds to 8 st 5 pounds in just 62 weeks. Susan was chosen to represent the Southmead Tuesday Slimming World group in the nationwide Slimming World Woman of the Year 2018 competition which aims to find the UK and Ireland’s most inspiring female slimmer.
More than half of all women in the UK and Ireland (58%) are overweight and a quarter of women’s weight is so high it risks impacting on their health by increasing their chances of developing a range of conditions including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Slimming World’s Woman of the Year competition recognises the achievements of thousands of women up and down the country who have made long-term healthy lifestyle changes.
Susan, who has gone from a dress size 24 to a 12, says: “I never could have dreamt that I’d be in this position when I first began my weight loss journey. Losing weight has made such a big difference to me. My health is better, I have more energy, I’m happier and I feel more comfortable in my own skin.” Susan joined Slimming World in June 2017 after becoming increasingly unhappy with her size: “I started to put on weight in my late teens and it piled on after having my children. I tried lots of different ways to lose weight, but they usually left me feeling hungry or miserable – or both, in fact. With Slimming World it’s completely different”.
Susan before, during and after, now feeling like a “different woman”
Susan lost 4.5lbs in her first week and was blown away that the changes she’d made had such a big impact so quickly. As the weight started to come off, her fitness improved, and Susan now loves walking and being more active with her grandchildren. She says: “I feel like a different woman to the one who walked into Slimming World 15 months ago and winning Woman of the Year is a real honour because there are so many amazing women in our group. I remember feeling like there was no hope when it came to my weight, but I’ve realised that when people believe in you – and you believe in yourself – you can do anything you set your mind to. I really hope my weight loss can inspire other people to get started on their own journey and know that there’s a whole group of people waiting to support them every step of the way – especially at the Southmead Tuesday group. My goal now is to stay on my target and stay there for life, which I know I can do.”
Susan went forward to the regional finals of the competition, putting her in the running for the national title. The national Slimming World Woman of the Year 2018 will be announced in November and the winner will take home a £3,000 (or Euro equivalent) cash prize or a five-day holiday in Mexico.
Nicola Bennett who runs the Southmead Tuesday group, says: “I’m so proud of Susan, She’s a fantastic ambassador for Slimming World and what she’s achieved is nothing short of incredible. She’s a huge inspiration to everyone in our group and I hope she inspires other women – and men – in Southmead to change their lives in the same way.”