TWO Flintshire slimmers who have transformed their lives by losing a total of nine stone between them are set to use their success to kickstart a new career and help others achieve similar results in the process.
Anthony Deegan and Susie Preston have both recently completed their training as Slimming World Consultants.
Anthony, who has lost four stone following Slimming World, said: “The biggest difference for me now is feeling comfortable in my own skin and I want to help others feel like that too.”
Before and after: Anthony Deegan
Anthony added that he loves ‘the realness about attending group’.
He said: “Over the years I have tried so many times and ways to lose weight, either by giving up certain types of foods or by following specific diets but they were never sustainable because I would always get fed up of restricting what I ate.
“My group has helped me own my weight and deal with it. I can now happily wear the size of clothes I want to wear and walk into a room feeling far more confident.”
Susie, who dropped several dress sizes after losing five stone, said: “The help and support that you get in group is really what it is all about. In the group, you are all in it together and there for each other. You support each other through the good and bad days as well as having a giggle along the way. I could not have lost all that weight without the weekly help, encouragement and understanding of my own Consultant and group.”
Before and after: Susie Preston
Susie spoke about how Slimming World also encouraged her to get more active through running and how she has bundles of extra energy through losing weight and doing lots more exercise.
Like Anthony and Susie, Slimming World Consultants are all former members who have lost weight at their local groups.
Tracey Evans, who manages both Anthony and Susie as a Team Developer, said: “Slimming World Consultants are chosen for their positive outlook and because they genuinely care about people and their health and happiness. With Anthony and Susie’s experience of being successful Slimming World members and both of their kind and warm personalities and great sense of humour I just know that they will be an amazing support to members, cheering them all the way to their target weight.”
Susie and Anthony both agree that their new roles with Slimming World have never been more important for helping people achieve their health-related goals.
The pair spoke about World Diabetes Day, which is recognised next week on November 14, and given the ever-growing risk of developing diabetes due to being overweight.
Anthony and Susie launch their Slimming World groups this month
Anthony said that being overweight is becoming such a huge issue across the country and, in most families, there is nearly always a family member or somebody that they know who has diabetes which potentially could be helped by losing weight.
Susie told the Leader: “When I first joined Slimming World as a member, I never thought that I would end up helping other people to lose weight. But now, after learning about the obesity and diabetes problem in the UK through my training, I just want to get started! I want to help others feel better about themselves like I do now, but also to help people get healthier.”
Anthony’s group will be held at Mancot Village Hall every Wednesday at 5pm and 7pm from November 20.
Susie’s group will be held at Hawarden Scout Group Headquarters on Gladstone Playing Fields in Hawarden every Thursday at 5.15pm and 7.15pm from November 21.
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