Wigan mum celebrates losing half her body weight

Those are the words of Alison Parker, who really is half the woman she used to be after losing an impressive 12 stone.

The 45-year-old now feels “alive” after dropping from 23st 10lb to 11st 10lb.

Alison, from Hindley, said: “I come from a family of big people with big appetites, good cooks, comfort eating, emotional eating, all that sort of thing.

“I have been with Slimming World on and off for the last 15 years. The last time I went I was very successful and lost eight-and-a-half stone and my mum died and that was a big setback.

“You diet, you lose lots of weight, you stop for whatever reason and put it back on.”

Then Alison’s father was diagnosed with stomach cancer and she gained weight as she nursed him, turning to comfort eating.

When he died in June 2018, she decided it was time to take control of her own health.

“I realised I was setting myself up for bad health conditions and that’s what he wouldn’t have wanted, so I rejoined Slimming World with more determination,” she said.

Alison registered in August 2018 and has never looked back, as she changed her eating habits, became more active and kept losing weight.

She has swapped her size 26-28 clothes for sizes 12-14, her food bill has gone down and she now loves to swim.

Alison’s health has certainly improved, with her BMI dropping and no longer being pre-diabetic.

Alison, who has a 15-year-old son, said: “I feel alive. I feel like before I was not dead yet and now I’m actively alive and doing things.”

She credits the support of the Slimming World members for her success, describing them as a “family” and “propping” her up when her marriage ended.

“It’s the support of the group that’s made the difference,” she said.

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