WHEN Shirley Ferdinand transformed her life by losing weight, she ended up changing careers - and is now helping others to achieve their own slimming goals.

Shirley joined Slimming World online four years ago and lost four stone. After regaining two stone in lockdown, she decided to return to Slimming World, so joined her local group in Allerton and went on to lose nearly 1.5 stone.

Says Shirley: “I was so busy with my bridal shop and invitation business that I just didn’t get time for myself. Reaching a turning point in my life, my husband and I had separated, I decided to sell my bridal business.

“Then came along lockdown and everything stopped. With the uncertainty and worry that came with lockdown I found I was comfort eating on biscuits and chocolate and the weight was creeping back on. I needed something else to do. So I donated my time to making hundreds of scrub bags for the NHS, thankfully that kept me busy but when life started to get back to normal I knew I had to do something about my weight.

“My niece asked if I wanted to join a Slimming World group with her so we could support each other. I was so happy to be taking back control, I did feel nervous when I first walked through the door, and I was soon welcomed with a warm smile by the consultant. She made to feel so comfortable straight away, which meant I didn’t feel bad about my weight gain and no-one judged me.”

Adds Shirley: “The group was so welcoming, everyone was there for the same reason. Everyone wanted to support each other and very quickly I felt at home.”

“After listening to the new members talk on my first night in group I remembered just how generous and liberating the food optimising plan is. I had forgotten how much I could eat, especially after trying so many other faddy diets over the last few years.

I went away and filled up on Slimming World Free Food, making sure that I was never hungry, and I was over the moon to lose 5lb in my first week!”

Shirley likes the freedom of the Slimming World plan, enabling her to still enjoy her favourite foods like pasta and potatoes.

“ I absolutely love the lasagne and meatballs, and I still enjoy chocolate and biscuits in smaller amounts so I never miss out,” she says.

With the weight started to come off, and all the support she received in group, Shirley was inspired by her own slimming journey and wanted to find out more about the role of a Slimming World consultant.

She attended an information event and has since been successful in the interview process, and is now re-launching her own Slimming World group at Allerton Congregational Church every Tuesday at 5.30pm and 7pm.

Shirley trained as a consultant for Slimming World at the organisation’s national training academy in Derbyshire.

Members at her group are getting ready to welcome her as their new consultant when she takes over on March 1.

“I am so proud of how far I’ve come over the last four years,” says Shirley. “I now want to help and support others in the community to achieve their own weight loss dreams.”

* To join or find out more about Shirley’s Slimming World group call her on 07782 214212.