A Gloucester woman knew things had to change when she no longer wanted to leave the house and her clothes would ‘rip at the seams’ as she continued to gain weight. It was a miserable time where fad diets left her hungry all day and a KFC chicken bucket brought her to tears.
Michelle Gifford, 52. from Gloucester, at her heaviest weighed over 20 stone. She had tried so many fad diets, taken diet pills, smoothies and milkshake plans and many others before she found a diet plan where she is no longer miserable and hungry and has lost nearly nine stone, with Slimming World.
Before Michelle joined Slimming World, with all the fad dieting, as fast as she seemed to lose weight, she seemed to be gaining it. It was a horrible time living on an emotional rollercoaster of upset with how she looked and felt about her weight.
(Image: Michelle Gifford)
Mum-of-three Michelle said: “My weight was always up and down with these fad diet trends. It was the yoyo effect as many of the slimming plans were not sustainable and I never really ever reached my dream weight either.
“I think the hardest diets to follow are the liquid ones which left me feeling deprived of food and miserable. Watching others eat food and knowing I couldn’t was horrible and I could only have three shakes or soups a day and a protein bar and I did this for eight months.
“I remember the first weekend of doing this plan and my Mum asked me to pop to KFC to get a couple of buckets of chicken as we were having a family gathering. I had them sat on my lap and I could smell the food. I was determined I was not going to falter on my first few days.
“I remember crying that weekend, so desperate and sad, I hated the way I looked and felt. I had hip and back pain all the time.
“The maximum calories were 800 a day and you were not allowed milk or any real food. I did lose seven stones in that time however the weight loss then stopped.
“It was recommended that I go onto the plan of eating veg and protein to maintain my weight, which I did, yet after a few months I had regained six stone.
(Image: Michelle Gifford)
“I visited my GP as I could not understand why. My body had forgotten what to do with real foods, my digestive system just didn’t work properly. I came home distraught and rebelled and ordered a pizza as a treat then as you can imagine I regained all my weight.”
Michelle went along to a Slimming World meeting with her friend who invited her in 2015. She lost 11lbs in the first week, over a stone by the second week, however a family tragedy struck which understandably distracted Michelle and her weight loss focus.
She said: “I first discovered Slimming World in 2015 when my friend invited me to go along with her. I lost 11lbs in my first week, over a stone by the second week.
“I was doing well then the tragic news of my Dad having a brain tumour which was incurable just stopped my weight loss journey. My brothers, husband and I flew over to Canada to spend some time with him and we left Canada knowing that we would never see him again.
“This made me turn to comfort foods and my biggest downfall were crisps, which I would end up snacking on three or four packets at a time instead of a real meal. I was having takeaways or convenience foods because I really didn’t care.
(Image: Michelle Gifford)
“I continued to gain weight and I wouldn’t go out of the house if I could help it. I hated going shopping but that was probably the only time I would go out and I hated people seeing me, I felt they would be judging me as I put on so much weight.
“My family and friends visited me at my home as I wouldn’t go to visit them. I really started to not care about how I looked or dressed and every piece of clothing I owned was stretchy.
“I was a size 26 tops and in a size 24 jeans. They wouldn’t last long because they would rip at the seams.”
Two years later, Michelle was encouraged by her friend to go to Slimming World. She knew it was a good move for her to help her get back on her weight loss goal.
Michelle said: “In August 2017 my best friend Natalie invited me to go along to Slimming World. I knew that this plan was working for me on my first try, hardly any weighing and measuring, so many free foods that didn’t need measuring and I could eat as much as I needed to, to feel satisfied.
“Knowing that I could lose weight without ever going hungry and no weighing my steak or chicken, with eating real foods, no milkshakes or liquid foods, I thought yes I’ll go along.
“I was very nervous and worried what people would think of me, especially if they knew me. But all that disappeared.
“The members there were in the same boat as me, probably feeling the same way as me, and nobody was judgemental, just warm and friendly. I got lots of tips on strategies and recipes and help with how to introduce exercise without having to go to a gym or pay for exercise.
“There is a body magic activity programme which you can incorporate activities like walking, gardening, housework all counting towards awards and a healthier, fitter lifestyle and at a pace that suits every individual. I started getting Slimmer of the Week most weeks, then Slimmer of the Month.
“I felt embarrassed at first, and actually really disliked receiving these awards, but before long I realised my fellow members were spurring me on too. They could all see me shrinking, before I could see it.
“This was the only time I believed I would reach a weight I actually wanted. My first target weight was 12 stone seven pounds, I then lowered it another two times to 12 stone and then 11 stone 10pounds and I reached my target within 11 months.
“I have now lowered my target to 11st, so that I will be over 9 stone lighter than at my heaviest. The greatest part about the Slimming World plan is that not only can we eat real foods and feel great but we learn to change our mindset so we can enjoy socialising and all events in our lives. There’s no judgement or humiliation from any gains that may occur only support.
“A few months into my journey, my consultant asked me if I’d like to join her social team. I felt honoured and loved everything about being on the social team and I was making new friends all the time.”
Michelle’s family have been really supportive on her journey. In fact it seems they all enjoy the meals Michelle prepares for them, especially a curry or steak and chips.
She said: “My family have enjoyed all the family favourites that I cook, all being Slimming World friendly where I can still lose weight. Roast dinners, curry’s and steak and chips being some of our favourites.
“All of my family are very proud of my weight loss journey and my career change by becoming a Slimming World Consultant which has meant I have helped change many lives.
“I became a Slimming World consultant launching my first ever group at St Georges Church Hall in Tuffley on January 2, 2019. Within a year I was running three groups including St Johns Church in Churchdown on Tuesday evenings 5.15pm and 6.45pm and Elmbridge Primary School on Saturday mornings at 8.00am till 9.30am.
On 2nd January 2025 (on my 6th Anniversary of being a consultant) I will be opening up a new group at a new venue – Abbeydale Christchurch they will run every Thursday at 5.30pm & 7.00pm.
“I recently graduated as a Team Developer on November 1, where I support other consultants in parts of Cheltenham and Gloucester. I am also looking to recruit more consultants to join my team and run established groups that currently do not have a permanent consultant.
“This year I have also become a Team Developer supporting six consultants. Emma was my member at my St Georges, Tuffley group who I recruited who now runs two successful groups in Brockworth and Hucclecote.
My newest consultant, who will join my team in January will be taking over my St Johns Church, Churchdown group on 28th January 2025.”