A woman who spent years avoiding nights out because she felt frumpy next to her friends has lost nearly 6st to be named ‘Miss Slinky 2015’.
At her heaviest Zoe Jones, 27, from Pontypridd, Wales, dreaded getting dressed up and would make excuses to stay home instead of socialising.
Now she’s dropped four dress sizes, going from a size 18 to a ten, and has been awarded the national title by weight-loss organisation Slimming World.
She had always been a little bigger than her friends but piled on more weight both during her time at Cardiff University and afterwards when she left home for good.
Zoe says that when it came to catering for herself she would often resort to convenient but unhealthy options.
‘When I moved out of my mum and dad’s house into my own place, I found cooking for one tricky and would usually end up eating something made from a ready-made sauce that was enough for at least two people.’
‘Then boredom would set in and I’d spend my evenings lounging in front of the TV grazing on crisps and sweets. I was stuck in a rut.’
She soon became insecure with the way she looked and began to avoid social situations.
‘I used to come up with every excuse in the book not to join my friends on nights out because, while I loved spending time with them, I hated how I looked and felt.’
‘Before I lost weight it never occurred to me to do any real sort of activity. To be honest even the gentlest of exercise would probably have been a struggle.
‘I feel like a different person now. I have bucket loads more energy and I love putting on my fluorescents and going for a run on an evening. Me and my best friend Emma completed the Cardiff half marathon in October – I couldn’t stop smiling after I crossed the finish line.’
Since first joining Slimming World Zoe’s lost a total of 5st 12lbs, dropping from 15st 7½lb to 9st 9½lb.
Now she’s been named the club’s Miss Slinky 2015, an award for the female slimmer who’s had the most inspirational transformation, both inside and out.
credits: www.dailymail.co.uk