Biggleswade Slimming World member encourages others to join and look after health during pandemic

A woman from Old Warden who lost over three stone during the pandemic is encouraging people to begin their weight loss journey now that Slimming World meetings have relaunched in person.

Pat Ives, 65, slimmed down from a size 18 and is now a 12-14 thanks to joining the Biggleswade group that was run by consultant Penny Prior.

With Covid-19 still in our midst, Pat is encouraging others to look after their health, and wants readers to know that achieving their goals is possible.

Pat said: "I was getting bigger and bigger. I wasn't happy with my size and I was experiencing knee pain. I just thought, 'it's because I'm too big'.

"It took me a long while to do something about it.

"I'd lost a stone on my own without going to Slimming World and I thought, 'If I don't have some help I'm going to put weight back on'."

Pat had her first Slimming World weigh-in in April 2020, and with the country in lockdown due to Covid-19, she knew it was especially important to take care of her health.

Determined, she joined the online meetings every Saturday morning and also shared tips and ideas with members via Facebook.

Pat describes her weight loss as steady, and sticking to her food plan, she was thrilled to reach her target weight in November.

She said: "You are not actually on a diet; you are not restricted from anything. Slimming World will tell you how many sins - unhealthy foods - you can have, such as chocolate, but just in moderation."

In February 2020, before joining Slimming World, Pat had weighed 13st 7lbs (and was 12st 7lbs when she signed up), but by the time she reached her target weight in November, she was 10st 4lbs.

Pat describes her journey as having done her "the world of good", as she now feels much healthier and no longer experiences knee pain.

She also has COPD, and realised that rather than her condition, it was the weight that had been causing her to feel out of breath.

Pat said: "If anyone's thinking about joining, I would say, 'Yes, you can do it!' I didn't find it difficult.

"When you know you have to weigh in every week, you really don't want to go up, you want to go down.

"A huge thank you to Penny, who was very kind, supportive, easy-going and laid back."

If you would like to join the Biggleswade Slimming World Group, please contact consultant Kirsty Brown on 07980 901401.

Kirsty's session is on May 29 at 8am in Stratton Upper School, Biggleswade.

Meanwhile, Penny is running sessions at The Eco Hub, Stocks Lane, Gamlingay, on Mondays at 5.30pm and 6.30pm. There is also a 7.20pm session for new members. Booking is essential.

Call: 07737 809516. Facebook: ‘Slim with Penny Gamlingay’.