Three super slimmers from Merseyside and West Lancashire reached the semi-finals of a competition to find the UK and Ireland’s most successful female slimmers, after losing a life-changing 29st 1lbs between them.
Amy Camp, Georgina Porter and Rita Santos secured their place in the semi-final of Slimming World’s Woman of the Year 2022 competition after members of their Slimming World groups voted them as their representatives in the annual contest. They were delighted to be three of 37 women from across the UK and Ireland invited to share their stories at Slimming World head office in Derbyshire and be in with a chance of taking the overall title.
Georgina Porter, who down-sized from 19st 10lbs to 10st 10.5lbs at Dee Wright’s Southport group, said:
“The best thing is that I feel confident that I’ve formed new healthy habits that will stick with me, like filling my plate with plenty of veg and cooking without lots of added oils and fats. These new habits have enabled me to finally take control of my weight and find the confidence I’ve been lacking all these years – it doesn’t feel like an uphill struggle anymore.
“With my new-found confidence I started thinking about ways I could become more active and took up swimming and I joined the gym with my sister-in-law. Slimming World has a physical activity support programme called Body Magic and it helped me to gradually increase how much I was doing and how often, so I could take it up a gear at a pace that worked for me. I enjoy every minute of it too.”
Amy Camp, who slimmed from 21st 8lbs to 9st 12.5lbs at Lindsey Leyland’s St Helens group, said:
“Before I joined Slimming World, losing weight just felt like an uphill struggle. I was sitting on the sidelines on days out with my daughter. I was once told I had to get off a theme park ride as the barrier wouldn’t close. I felt self-concious all the time and would get out of breath doing the most simple things and, although I was desperate to do something about it, I had almost resigned myself to the fact that I would always be overweight and unhappy.
“I tried a few ways to lose weight before Slimming World and the difference this time was that Slimming World’s Food Optimising plan showed me a way of eating that fits so easily around my life, without me ever feeling hungry or like I’m missing out or restricting myself. Throughout my weight loss journey I’ve been able to still enjoy all my favourite meals like hunters chicken or sausage, chips and peas. I just prepared and cooked them differently.”
Rita Santos, who joined her Skelmersdale group run by Consultant Sue Allt weighing 20st 2lbs, is now a slim 11st 10lbs. She says that the supportive environment of her Slimming World group has been key to her success:
“The group really made me feel welcome from the very first day I joined. We share tips and recipe ideas and cheer each other on when we need it – and even when we don’t realise we do. Ultimately, when I was at my lowest ebb it was a place I felt safe, included and free to be myself. My Consultant Sue has been amazing and really helped me to believe in myself and stay motivated, too.
“At the start of my journey if you’d have told me I would be representing my group at the finals of Slimming World’s Woman of the Year competition, feeling the way I do, I would have laughed. I still can’t believe this is my reality. My growing confidence has meant I finally feel comfortable enough to get married in 2024. I’m looking forward to a brighter, happier and heathier future and ready to seize life with both hands.”
Dee Wright, who runs the Southport Slimming World group, said: “It really is incredibly rewarding watching members transform and grow in confidence each week in group. These ladies have inspired so many of their fellow slimmers so when it came down to voting for our group’s Woman of the Year it was really lovely to see so many people supporting them.”
Sue Allt who runs Rita’s Skelmersdale group said: “We couldn’t be prouder of them. I hope that they inspire other people in Merseyside who might’ve been feeling the way that they did to pop along and join our warm and friendly groups.”
Unfortunately, neither Amy, Georgina nor Rita was the overall winner of the competition. Slimming World’s Woman of the Year 2022 will be announced in the coming months.
● Slimming World Southport with Dee group meets at St Simon and St Jude’s Church Hall in High Park in Southport every Thursday (9.30am, 5.30pm and 7pm) and Friday (9.30am and 11am). For more details call Dee Wright on: 07711566153.
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