18/10/2026
Meet our newest Winklebury target member Hannah and read her story 🥰
For most of my life, I’d always been a size 6–8. I could eat loads, I had an active job working at a cinema where I was constantly on my feet, and I went to the gym four times a week.
But over time, things changed. I went from an active job to an office job, and eventually from working full-time to part-time because of chronic pain. There were periods when I couldn’t get to the gym for months at a time, and I suffered with sciatic nerve pain that left me struggling to move around for nine months.
Alongside this, I was dealing with chronic back and arm pain, as well as the sciatic pain, which meant I had to start taking medication. One of the side effects was an increased appetite, and I found myself eating so much more than I ever had before.
Gradually, my weight crept up, and I went from a size 8 to a size 16–18. A lot of the weight went straight to my stomach, and I even had people asking me if I was pregnant. I was actually heavier than I’d been at nine months pregnant!
It really affected my confidence and my mental health. I was feeling very low, struggling with how I looked and felt, and my BMI had reached 30.
After speaking to my GP, I was referred to Slimming World, and I started my journey in February 2026.
Since then, I’ve made changes that I’m incredibly proud of. I’m now just 2.5lbs away from losing three stone, and I’ve reached my target weight!
I’m getting back into so many of my old clothes, my newer clothes are now too big, and even my belts need tightening. They’re definitely the kind of problems I’m happy to have!
But for me, this journey is about so much more than the number on the scales. It’s about feeling better about myself, building a healthier relationship with food, and feeling proud of what I’ve achieved. I’ve completely changed my mindset around food and now make much healthier choices. I’m far more mindful of what goes into my meals, while still enjoying the things I love, including a glass of Prosecco and the occasional treat. It’s all about balance!
The compliments from friends and family have been amazing, and it feels so good to know that all my hard work is paying off.
One of the best parts of this journey has also been the people I’ve met at group. There are some genuinely lovely members, and everyone supports and encourages one another. It’s such a welcoming community, and having that support makes such a difference.
Living with chronic pain has brought challenges I never expected, and there have been times when I’ve felt really low. But I’ve proved to myself that, even when life throws obstacles in your way, you can still make positive changes and achieve things you’re proud of.
I’m so proud of how far I’ve come, not just with my weight loss, but with my mindset and my confidence, too. And I’m excited to keep moving forward, one step at a time!
