Eastbourne mum wins award after shedding five stone

FORMER chocoholic Carol Ryan has won an award for being the biggest loser in Eastbourne after shedding almost five stone to become a healthy mum.

She plunged from a size 24 to a 12 in just a year by ditching the five chocolate bars she scoffed every day along with cakes, biscuits and packets of crisps after joining a slimming group.

Carol, 43, was so impressed with Slimming World’s diet and results she became a consultant in March and now successfully runs the group in St Agnes Church Hall, Whitley Road.

And the mother-of-two, who suffered terrible migraines from binge-eating, now has a double reason to celebrate after helping her group members lose a whopping 39 stone over the last three months.

Carol has been given her Bronze Award for having an average of 50 members at her group, which is held every Thursday.

She told the Eastbourne Herald, “I’m delighted. Slimming World has changed my life and when I look in the mirror I can’t believe it’s me – a thin woman – staring back.

“I used to binge eat on five bars of chocolate and family-sized packets of biscuits per night and hide the wrappers so my kids couldn’t see.

“I was so overweight before and ate so much chocolate, I’d spend days in bed with migraines.

“Now I know I’m healthier, have more energy and have found it so easy to stick to the food optimising plan I’m running my own group and helping others to lose weight.

“Sometimes when people come in overweight and stuck in a junk food rut, they can’t believe they can really slim without starving – and I’m there to show them it can be done.”

Carol, who at just 5ft weighed 17 stone after having her children Bronwyn, 13, and Carys, 10, realised she needed to take action when her elasticated size 24 trousers became too tight.

She joined the Slimming World club based in Pevensey Bay and after swapping chocolate for cous cous, the weight fell off.

Carol, a junior school individual needs assistant, said says was never hungry and her biggest problem was having to buy an entirely new wardrobe of smaller clothes.

“After a few months me and the girls could have fitted into my old trousers,” she laughs.

“And I realised I was so enamored with Slimming World that I wanted to run my own group.

“Now I’ve lost 4st 10lb and have helped some of my members reach their target weight too.

“Watching someone change from having no confidence, being embarrassed about their size, and wearing shapeless clothes to someone who looks and feels great is amazing.

“I’m lucky that I have achieved that myself – and motivated others. That’s a really special feeling.

“I’m a great role model because for years I just lived on junk and didn’t do any exercise. Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can.”

Carol’s group is at 7pm on Thursday as St Agnes Catholic Church hall, Whitley Road.

The group is £4.95 a week and the joining fee is £9.90. Contact Carol on 07523 214353 for more information.

^{STORY SOURCE : HASTINGS AND ST LEONARD’S OBSERVER 20 AUGUST 2010}