From coat holder to thrill seeker - another Wigan slimming success story
How one woman rewrote her relationship with food, confidence, and herself.
For most of her life, food was comfort, routine, and escape but never quite freedom.
Like many people, Fiona Nickeas had lost weight before, only to regain it when life inevitably shifted. What makes her story remarkable isn’t just the number of stones lost, but the mindset gained along the way.
Fiona first joined Slimming World nine years ago after struggling with her weight from a young age. In the early years, the results were dramatic: five stone gone and target achieved.
But beneath the surface, the foundations hadn’t fully changed. When family life changed and she became a foster carer, group attendance slipped and gradually, the weight returned.
A fresh start came with Hannah’s Slimming World group in Newtown on Saturday mornings. Convenient, welcoming, and full of warmth, it quickly felt like home. Progress followed, confidence returned… and then the world stopped.
During the Covid years, endless Zoom meetings filled the days teaching, fostering, supporting others. One more virtual commitment felt like too much. Looking back now, Fiona is honest: stepping away from group became an excuse to step away from accountability. In an unfamiliar and frightening world, food became comfort once again.
By March 2022 she rejoined, but it wasn’t until January 2025 that everything truly clicked.“This time, I decided I was going to lose weight once and for all.”
And this time, it was different.
Nearly four stone later and close to target once again, the changes go far beyond the scales. Medication for a liver condition has been reduced. Energy levels have soared. Long-standing aches and pains have disappeared. Most importantly, her mindset has completely shifted.
Every syn is counted. Every meal is photographed and shared honestly on the group’s Facebook page including the bad days. Especially the bad days. That visibility keeps her focused, accountable, and grounded. Once the syns are posted, the kitchen is closed.
Weekly group attendance is non-negotiable. Even now, there’s always something new to take away: a recipe, an idea, a spark of motivation. And at the heart of it all is a consultant who gives 100% every single session, creating a group with a genuine family feel.
After 30 years of teaching in a special school, Fiona took early retirement in the summer. These days, life is full fostering a baby alongside teenagers, and doing the daily preschool run with her grandson. Her health matters now more than ever.
At her heaviest, she felt constantly embarrassed. Judged. Limited. She avoided anything that might draw attention theme park rides, activities, adventure. Fiona was always the coat holder.
Not anymore.
Now she’s the first to say yes. A few weeks ago, she rode the fastest zip line in the world for charity and loved every second.
Her favourite Slimming World tip sums up her transformation perfectly:
“If you’re not hungry for free food, you’re not really hungry.”
There was no single dramatic moment that triggered the change. No wake-up call. Just a quiet, powerful decision that the time was right.
Looking ahead, 2026 isn’t just the year she reaches target — it’s the year she stays there. By continuing to attend group, staying accountable, and protecting the mindset she’s worked so hard to build.
Because the best thing about weight loss isn’t just what you lose.
It’s everything you gain confidence, freedom, and the courage to do anything.