Suzanne Williams has struggled with her weight most of her adult life. It got to the point where she could hardly walk 50 metres without needing to sit down and she relied on using a walking stick.
The 63-year-old went to the doctors to ask for painkillers to help with her mobility, but unfortunately the medication she was on for her high blood pressure meant she couldn’t have them. She also got told she was pre-diabetic.
Sue, from Bridgend, said it was the wake-up call she needed. She said: “I was at an all time low, and was in fear of my life. I couldn’t see a way forward as I needed to exercise to lose weight, but couldn’t exercise as I was in so much pain. I have struggled with my weight all my adult life, but enough was enough.”
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She started Slimming World in January 2024, and a year later she has dropped five stone and gone from a size 22 to a size 18. While the grandmother says she still has a far way to go before she reaches her goal weight, she said her weight loss transformation has completely changed her life.
Sue was struggling with her mobility before her weight loss
“I didn’t have the energy to play with my Grandchildren, and was so tired all the time that I sometimes couldn’t give them any attention at all. I had tried many different diets/healthy eating programs over the years, including meal replacements, medications, fad diets, but none had been successful.”
She joined Slimming World with Charlene Goss in Pencoed. Sue added: “I was very nervous going into group. I couldn’t stand in the queue, and could barely get on the scales (I still have to hold on a little now to steady myself). The guys in group were great however, and they welcomed me and made me feel comfortable. Although people in my personal circle were sceptical that it would work this time, I knew that I had to do this for myself and my future.”
Before she started the plan, Sue would often start her day with a full English breakfast or bacon and cheese muffin. For lunch she would rely on a Greggs sausage roll or a meal deal sandwich, Dinner was often a microwave meal or a Domino’s pizza. Now she opts for a fruit salad with yogurt for breakfast, a salad or soup for lunch and dinner is a home-cooked Slimming World recipe meal. For the latest health and Covid news, sign up to our newsletter here
Sue lost 10lbs in her first week on the weight loss plan, which gave her even more incentive to carry on. As the weight came off, Sue also started exercising again.
Sue now looks “unrecognisable” -Credit:Suzanne Williams
At first all she could manage was the Slimming World sitting down exercises. She elaborated: “As the weeks went by, I was getting stronger and stronger, and the weight loss kept me going. Within three months of starting Slimming World, I started walking. Within six months, I was walking without my stick, and by nine months I was walking up to 5k two or three times a week and going to my local Toning Suite at the Halo Leisure Centre.”
Not only that, Sue now has more energy to play with her grandchildren and is no longer classed as pre-diabetic and has halved the blood-pressure medication she relied on.
Sue added: “I’ve lost 5 stone in 2024, and although I still have a long way to go, I have the confidence and commitment to carry on. I probably won’t hit my final goal weight until 2026, but that’s not going to put me off. The change I feel has been so profound and impactful on my life, that I am excited to see the final result.
“I am enjoying going into any shop I want and buying something “off the rack” instead of having to go to the plus size online shops. I’m enjoying colour in my clothes rather that just trying to blend into the background with dull and black clothes.
“The reaction from my family and friends have been the most enjoyable and pleasing. Some say I am now unrecognisable compared to what I used to be. Some friends have even walked past me because they couldn’t be sure it was me, and when I then say hello, they are amazed.”