281: It's Never Too Late

Introduction

0:00Welcome to Slimming World podcast. Hope you're well. Hope you had a great Easter. We are back with another public podcast. And this year, we've had so many brilliant guests and they just keep

0:33coming. Anna, don't they? Do you know what? I was just thinking this year has been ram-packed and with so many different guests. It's so interesting. I cannot wait for this one. One of the things that me and Anna really love to do is explore how different people take the flexibility of food optimising, to understand just how adaptable this plan can be for people in all kinds of lifestyles, ages, genders, parts of the world even. And today, we are delighted

1:06that we have Slimming World's current Diamond member. Diamond member of the year, technically 2025, but you still hold the title, Anne, don't you? How are you? I'm very well indeed. Thanks to Slimming World. And a happy and healthy life. Well, the tiara looks great on you, shall we say. So, Diamond member of the year. I mean, we always have to, I guess, recap the lingo, Anna, don't we? For anyone who isn't part of the

1:40Slimming World community, they might be thinking, what on earth is a Diamond member? Are you able to recap this, Anna? So, yeah, our wonderful target members, once they've hit their desired chosen target weight, once they hit their first year, they become Diamond status. And, yeah, it just means that they've stayed within their kind of weight loss bubble. You get a bubble of six pounds and they stayed within that. For the first year, they get Diamond target. And then year on, year on after that, they're multiple diamonds, aren't they? They are like a tennis bracelet or

2:14necklace, some of them with so many diamonds. So, yeah, it's a celebration of every year that they've stayed at that target weight. Wow. That's the gold right there, is it? Or diamond, should I say? I'm going to start with the first sentence of your success story that I read online, Anne. And here's what you said. You said, if you told me back in 2010 that I'd be this fit, happy and confident in my 80s, I'd have laughed. But here I am, living proof that it's never too late to change your life.

2:49Boom. Can you expand? Yes. It was one of the best things I have done was on April the 27th, 2010, when I walked in, feeling very nervous and afraid into Slimming World. But it was just wonderful. The consultant, the group, everything. And then the courage to get on the scales and discovered I was nearly 17 stone.

3:20But I was promised and assured that Slimming World would work. And it did, because I got to Target in the following year, June. And it just worked. It was just wonderful. The weight came off. I was told I would lose weight. I was assured. I was promised if I followed it, you know, I would. And I wasn't hungry. It just worked. It was just amazing. And success breeds success. And I lost weight

3:52every single week, bar Christmas, when I put on half a pound. But there's no judgment, you know, if you find you, you slip by that you, your group support your consultant, and you get right back on it. And it's not a diet. I mean, it's proper food. You're, you're never hungry. It's just wonderful. Oh, I mean, and you say it's, it changed your life. Or how? Give us an idea of how. Well, for example, I used to love swimming, but I had to give it up because I just couldn't

4:29bear myself, see myself in a swimming costume or others to see me. And the weight came off. And I remember in January 2011, we booked a holiday property bond place in Wales with a swimming pool. And we booked this apartment, 77 steps up a spiral staircase. And that was the only way to access this wonderful apartment. And sort of walking up with a suitcase, walking

5:01down before breakfast to use a swimming pool. I mean, it just opened up, opened up, reopened, you know, this wonderful, healthy, happy life. And your character, your confidence changes. You're no longer sort of hiding or avoiding the camera or even sort of speaking in public. You don't want to put yourself forward. But once I lost, started to lose the weight, you're just gaining

5:33confidence or you regain the confidence and you're healthy and happy. Tell me, how has your health been impacted? In 2010, I had suffered two chest infections. One, you know, between January and March. My husband's brother was a doctor. And I did say to him, you know, my chest infection. And he said to me,

6:03Anne, you know, you're carrying around a sack of potatoes. You know, there's so much weight. If you lost some weight, you would not suffer. And he was right. He was very kind. And it worked. I haven't had a chest infection since. Yes. It made a huge difference in my, the way I look, the way I dress. Yes. The way I am. Yeah. You talked about avoiding mirrors. I mean, I absolutely avoided mirrors.

6:37Well, and in fact, Anna, you only said a few weeks ago, didn't you, that now you're at a target weight. I'm the diamond member, we should add. Yeah, Anna's diamond. Yeah. But you said that you don't mind looking at yourself in the mirror now. Now it's something that I almost like prioritize I do to celebrate. And, and I, you know, I've got a little eight year old little girl and I want to show her that your body's brilliant and strong. And actually we've got five, six full length mirrors in my house now. Six. Yeah.

7:08That's a nightmare for washing and cleaning though. I know. Yeah, I know. And they're everywhere. But whereas I used to just have them from the chin upwards because you didn't, you know, I used to think like when I'd catch a reflection of myself, you know, in a shop window, I used to wince at that. And now I actually take a second and think, hello. Like it makes you feel proud, doesn't it? Of what you've done. So I'm a mirror fan. I'm always turning sideways, you know, in photographs or hiding behind somebody, you know, it's quite different. It's quite different. Yes. And I, you know, I do, I, if, well,

7:44originally when I did lose all this weight, people noticed and they would ask me, Anne, you know, what have you done? And I said, I have joined Slimming World. You know, it's just wonderful. It's proper food cooked well. You're an avid gardener, aren't you? Well, we, yes, yes. Well, we've got a lot, well, we've got quite a bit of, we've got a field, we've got a walled garden. Yes. But it's been, more of it has been put down to grass. Okay. But I can imagine tending to that, you need to be quite

8:17fit and healthy to be physically. Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. And we, I did get a hot tub. I go in every night, 11 o'clock, even on Christmas Day. Yes. And, and it's rigorous exercise. Yes. You know, I do. Or if, you know, if not, I just lie back and let the bubbles and just look at the stars. Yeah. Oh my goodness. I feel like. Yeah. But, um, can I be cheeky and ask, do you wear a swimming costume

8:49or do you not bother? I wear a woolly hat. Is that all? Yes. If it's in your own garden, why not? No. But I always tell my husband, you know, I tell Anthony, I said, set a lexer for 20 minutes. But, you know, so he'll come out and sort of close it up, you know. Oh, okay. Just, just for safety. We've got visions of you in your woolly hat needing some assistance.

9:21Well, I mean, honestly. We've got a zest for life, that's for sure to say it's there. Well, I'm busy. I mean, we're both, we've got a lovely old church. Well, we're both involved with that. But I look after the village hall. We, it's opened every day for books and bric-a-brac. And I'm the unpaid cleaner. Um, and we've made, I think, since COVID, £24,000 just through donations for books, jigsaws and bric-a-brac. Um, but that involves, you know, quite a bit of work. And there's

9:54a snooker room that I sort of go and hoover. Uh, and it will, it's part of the community. Our village is a lovely village in Wensleydale. I mean, it's, uh, yeah, it's very, very attractive. Yeah. Do you feel now, since you lost the weight, you live a much more, a bigger life? Because I found when I was overweight, my world was quite small. Uh, an open life. And you don't mind talking to people in, I mean, in, in Yorkshire, everyone knows everybody. You speak. But I'm not, I'm not afraid to be open. And none of us are perfect.

10:33None of us live stress-free lives. And, you know, you, you need to smile at people. And if they're looking down, you just, just spend time with people. And when in retirement, you have got the time. And being involved with the village hall and the church, you know, you are, one is involved. Yeah. So the other thing I'm also thinking, Anne, is that, you know, that statement where, um, you talked about if you, if you spoke to your 20 year old self, I mean, I imagine that there will be people in their twenties listening to this podcast episode. What would you say to people who

11:09maybe aren't yet retired and they are younger, um, and they are trying to, to lose the weight? What now, knowing that you've kind of cracked this and kept the weight off for a number of years, what would you suggest either to yourself or to, to people of that age group? Well, I would say, come with me. I belong to a club. Come, come with me. Just, just, just taste and see. The welcome you get, the understanding. There's no judgment. No one's

11:43looks in horror. You know, there are people in great need who need to lose weight, but you're so accepted. You're so welcomed. And you, you, you talk to the next door person, you know, or you engage in in the, in the, in the lineup and, uh, no, I would say, come with me. Why? Give it a go. Try, just try. Yeah. Or I would put, you know, you were saying to a young, I would say, encourage them or not what

12:14you must not do, but what you can eat that you're not hungry and just try and emphasize the, the, the healthy, the healthy options. And, and, and, you know, I know it works.

12:30Proof it works. I mean, and that's the thing, isn't it? Because it feels like the world seems so noisy these days, doesn't it? We try this, do that quick fixes. We can't open the newspapers without seeing some kind of promise to do and shortcut. And I suppose it can be hard for people to find that organization they trust. But I guess really Slimming World's been doing this for like over 55 years. Kind of know what they're talking about. Yeah. And also how Slimming World has adapted. I mean, when I joined,

13:04there was green, there was, um, you know, there were three, four, I just extra easy, but now I think it is much easier, much easier. Yes. Sim, not simpler, but it's, I think, yeah. Screen lined, it's been. That's it, that's it. And you know,

13:25Slimming World's a wonderful organization. I've now been well entertained by them three times, you know, Birmingham, but twice at, to our headquarters. And I am coming again in April, April the 24th, I've been invited to something or other. Yeah. Nice. Do you love the restaurant as much as Claire and I do? But yes. Yeah. Wonderful. But you know, everyone is so lovely. And we were given a tour this time of the offices, you know, and, and I met a photographer and he'd worked there for

13:5726 years. Oh, great. Somebody else 30. I mean, the proof of the pudding isn't in the eating. I mean, it's just, all those involved in Slimming World are just, just lovely. But you, you tapped into something before, and I think it's that, that group and what you get in group and that sense of community and that support. Did that really help you in your journey? Oh, yes. And you, you, in our group in Labour, you do tend to sit in the same place. You're either north, south, east, and west, you know. And the consultant knows because she goes through the names and, oh, you know,

14:36where's Gemma? She, she, she always sits there and, you know, so you get to know the, the people. And, and with the diamond member, you are voted for by your fellows. And so I, I felt I was as their representative because a lot of target people sensibly do go back each week. They're there. There was a feeling that I was voted for by, I was representing them. Yes. Yeah.

15:06They must be extremely proud of you. Well, they were very nice. They were very nice. Until they all bought magazines and they wanted me to sign.

15:20So, um, what is it that keeps you coming back, Anne? Because, you know, some people would say, well, you've cracked it, haven't you? Why is it that you need to keep going? Because in my past, I have had a weight problem. I was slim when I got married. Um, but I, in my adolescent, I was overweight. Uh, when I was at teacher's training college, the, it was a very, um, well, it was an Anglican, uh, teacher training college, and there was a sister

15:52in the surgery. And she actually arranged with the canteen, the college canteen that I had a low, high protein, lots of vegetables and limited, uh, carbohydrates. And I did lose then two stone, which I kept off. Um, but in my life, I have put weight on after the, my first son, instead of losing weight, I put it on. And then later on, about 20 years later, I think it was. So I know, and then

16:25I put myself on, you know, for one of our son's weddings and I didn't want to be in the photographs. So I put myself, I was just careful. But Slimming World is the one that has worked because it's not just the food, um, but it's the group support, the consultants and the encouragement. It's the aftercare. And it, it's just like a club. It's like, you know, my Wednesday club.

16:59Yes. No. And we, we do have a lovely group at Labour. Yes. Yes. Now you've talked about your lovely husband, Anthony. Has he, how's he dealt with the food optimizing train and the way you cook or the way you cook together? Oh, he has been wonderful. Has he? But because Slimming World is good food and he doesn't like a lot of starchy stuff like that, so encouraging. I followed recipes, but now, you know, you know so well how to do it. But,

17:30um, alcohol, you know, I, I, in 2010, you know, I decided, uh, we would always have a gin and tonic, but he would get one of his, one of the nice glasses, slice of lime, ice, and he would fill it with, um, low calorie tonic. And then he'd put a finger in his gin and wipe it around the top of my glass. Oh, and, um, I got the smell.

18:03A sniff of gin. Yes. Yes. And, you know, it was lovely. And he would never, I mean, I think, I wouldn't have wine. I might at the weekend have a glass of wine, but I was, before I went to Slimming World, I, you know, in retirement, I would have cider at lunchtime, just, you know. She's a classier is our Anne. You know, I, I really, I really took it seriously. Not in a dull way, but I was, I committed.

18:37I made that commitment to join Slimming World, and with Christine Spencer's help and the group support, you know, it just worked. That's romance, isn't it? Him dipping his finger and putting it back in the room of York. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm going down to my husband to tell him that now. But Anthony, right from the start, because he plays golf and Aldi's very near. So after he's had his round of golf, he'll go to Aldi. He won't, for a treat, he wouldn't buy me

19:09chocolates, but it would be, say if there was wonderful fruit, you know, flying out, you know, he would come back with fruit and then, you know, or flowers. He's all, you know, always, and then I've taken on 0% gin, you know. And he'll go get a bottle of tanqueries, 0%, as a, you know, because it's more expensive than the supermarket in labour and the co-op in labour. Ha! How nice is that?

19:41He really, but, you know, when we retired in 2004, we had to register up here with a doctor, and he said, you know, Mrs. David, do you mind getting on the scales? He said, you are a bit heavy, you know. Well, it took another doctor in 2010 to tell me, you know, lose weight, in a very nice way. But Anthony stopped saying anything because I would cry.

20:11Yeah. He wouldn't say anything horrible, you know. But do you think you really should have a cider? Or do you think you'd have that? You know, that's a lot of cheese. You know what I mean? Just, just gently. But he was so and so encouraging and then so proud, you know, each week I'd come back and say, you know, how did you get on today? Well, it'd be two pounds off, you know. And then, even now, I let him know. And I'm in target. But, you know, one does put weight,

20:48one's weight does go up. So, you know, I'd say, oh, it's bang on target. But I said, that means it's two pounds more. And he'd write back immediately a nice message, you know. That's all right. You're okay, you know. He seems wonderful. Yeah, no, he really, yeah, yeah. We get support system, don't we?

21:12It does make a big difference, doesn't it? I mean, it sounds like you had to, in order to get where you are today, you had to make some different choices. You had to make some changes. And sometimes, I guess, I know when I started out the process of losing weight many, many years ago, I almost wasn't willing to really see that. I wasn't really to, I didn't really think about this in terms of a lifestyle and like the long term. I wanted quick and I wired it off and I just wanted to be done and then go back to however life was before. But it sounds like you had to make

21:46these changes. So you're talking there about, for you, putting alcohol to the side was one of those changes. But I'm curious, you know, because the plan is so adaptable and flexible. What do you use your swips for, for instance?

22:03I suppose, yes. I've given up, we have afternoon tea, you know, Earl Grey tea. And I like baking. Well, we've got a naga. So you've always got something hot and I love baking. And we do afternoon tea with the church. So, you know, scones and all that. I had to no longer have anything with my Earl Grey tea. Anthony is tall and he, he, he was, he used to be a runner,

22:36long distance runner. So he's live and he, and he does a lot of physical work and walking seven miles on the golf course, you know, he does like a slice of fruit cake or a scone or anything like that.

22:54So I have, I can do it for him or I tell him, you know, I've told him, I think yesterday, the Christmas cake is in the fridge in the utility room. If you would like, if you would like a slice, do go and get, I do, I know me. Yeah. And if I cut a slice, I'll just even off.

23:21Or perhaps take a bit, you know, slight angle it. So, you know, I've got a bit of the marzipan. You know, strategic cutting, Anne. Love this. So I do, I do know me and I do take measures. Yes, I do. Yeah. And I do buy, well, Anthony does, I, the Tesco's 30% cheddar cheese is much sharper than Aldi. Aldi's not so good on that. Yeah. I like that. She's a connoisseur of a low fat cheese. You know, the good ones.

23:56But you have to find your things, don't you? This is what it's about. It's about finding those ways to still live your gorgeous life, but just with a few tweaks, isn't it? And I love making soup. I love making soup. And so he'll buy, if, you know, they're doing

24:1111 pence vegetables, you know, a whole lovely cabbage or a swede or anything. Anthony will buy lots of vegetables, you know, because he knows I love cooking and, you know, soup. Yeah, I got you double of that. And if the 0% gin is, you know, bargain price, I'll get two bottles. And it goes under the sideboard. Yes. You've backed a winner there. You really have. Oh, yes. How many years have you been married?

24:41We're coming up to 58 years. Yes. Wow. Yeah. So it's a long time. Yes. That's incredible. When I think, I mean, I'm 18 months older than Anthony. I think he was 23. Toy boy. Yeah. And I was coming up to 25. Yeah. Yeah. And just think, Anthony, you know, what a promise we made each other then, you know.

25:05Oh, what a promise it's been and what an exceptional life it's been by the sounds of it. Yes, because we taught in the same, well, school, it was independent school, but in the same grounds. Yeah. Yeah. And he was one of the five bachelors over at the boys' school. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. And how fast forward and now he's buying you 0% gin and 11 pea cabbages. I mean, what more could you want?

25:33Keep on my way out. What a boring life. Oh, no, it feels fabulous.

25:39Do you know what I really get a sense? It's like just how joyful your life is. And I think sometimes when people talk about weight loss, they forget about joy, don't they? They forget about the happiness and the connection. And I always think as well, like you hear people say that phrase, I'll be happy when, you know, that they kind of like postpone their celebration or their happiness. But actually, it just feels like you, you really kind of celebrated that along the way of your journey. And, and that, and that's just, it's the way of your life now.

26:12Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I love it. Do you know what, Anne, you know what I love? I run five different groups of my own and I love when members who are may have a little more wisdom, maybe slightly older, share those pearls of wisdom with my gorgeous younger members as well. It's such a lovely connection that's forged that I don't think happens very often in society anymore, that the generations don't mix so much. It's such a lovely way to learn. I see in my groups,

26:44a lot of my older members have taught the young ones how to cook or where to do this and things. And I learn off my members so much. I mean, have you found that in your groups that you're able to swap and share? Yes. Yes. And we're friends across the age group, but also, you know, different from different walks of life. Yeah. And, but also we can share and support emotionally. And I think weight and emotions and they do go together and we rejoice with each other when they reach a stone,

27:21you know, or their first weight loss when they come back and they're just amazed they've lost six pounds. And, you know, we just, we just share with each other and support and we never crow or there's no condemnation. There's no arrogance, you know, we just jet with, I think you're your most genuine because quite honestly, you know, weight, being overweight is a huge emotion. And you, when you go, you are acknowledged,

27:55you're admitting that you have a problem and you want to change your life.

28:01Yeah. I mean, you mentioned that when Anthony would, would talk about weight, that, that made you cry. What was it that was, was the emotion there for you that would, that would make you feel that way?

28:16Because I was embarrassed. I was ashamed of myself. Feelings that I couldn't put into words, didn't want to put into words.

28:29But when Anthony's brother said to me, he was so gentle because he said, you know, Anne, I love you, but you know, I just want to help you and I can, this is what you need to do for your health's sake. And you know, I could take it from him and it just gave me the courage. And there was a leaflet put through my door. I've put many a thousand through many a thousand door in the last 15 years. Yeah. That was, you know, yeah, that was it.

29:01I always think when I deliver my leaflets, because it was a leaflet that really helped me as well. Like this leaflet through this door could be the first step that changes someone's life. And it's just, it's for a lot of people, it's that first, oh, wow, this is what I need to do. Did you feel a little bit like that when it dropped on the doormat? Yeah. No, I made, but I do remember January, you know, December the 31st. I do remember this room because we used to give a New Year's Eve party.

29:32I thought I'm going to change. I want to change my life this year. So, you know, and it, it all dovetailed, you know, I, yeah. Look at you now. How many years at Target have you been now? Well, 2011, so it's 15 years nearly. Yes. Gosh. So I'm trying to do the maths. But I'm still going to go. I'm trying to do 82 minus 15. I can't like it. So you're in your 60s when you joined Slimming World, right?

30:03Yeah, sure. Yeah. Wow. Incredible. Good for you. Well, you're defying all people, you know, who might be like, do you know what? It's too late for me or you can't change a leopard's... No, never too late. Exactly. It's not about age, is it? It's about your mindset. Yes. Yes. It wasn't Margaret wonderful, the way she discovered this, did it, you know? It was marvelous. A remarkable woman before her time, I often think. Yes, yes.

30:33Yeah. Incredible lady. Yeah. Well, Anne, we'll let you go rescue Anthony from, I don't know, eating cake in the utilities. He's probably prepping your hot tub by now, isn't he? Pouring your gin. Yes. He's eating the hot tub with a piece of cake. Yeah. That's what I want to know. That's the dream right there, isn't it, Anne? With the hat on. Oh, of course. Thank you. Okay. Well, bye. Bye. Take care.

31:03It's been a pleasure. Well, next week, we're doing a members-only episode, and we're continuing this theme, really, I guess, of self-love, aren't we? It's called Show Yourself Some Love. We're tapping into a brilliant magazine article that's come out not very long ago, actually. I want to get into this as a bit of a theme. And then we're back talking about food. I mean, of course, we will talk about food in the next couple of weeks as well. So come and have a little bit of fun with us. We'll be on Instagram at slimmingworldpodcast. You can always email us, slimmingworldpodcast at gmail.com.

31:37But until then, bye, Anne. Take care. Bye. Goodbye. Bye. Bye. And see you guys soon. Bye bye.

31:54Bye.