An Essex mum has managed to lose more than three stone and drop three dress sizes after developing a “love for cooking” when she reached her “heaviest weight ever”. In September 2023, Claire Cross stood at a crossroads. At 15 stone 2 pounds, she had battled with her weight for most of her life, and the struggles seemed to grow more daunting with age.
Over 50, menopausal, and nearing her heaviest weight ever, Claire, from Chelmsford, was feeling frustrated and defeated. A family photo, taken at her daughter’s prom, encapsulated this sense of dissatisfaction—while her daughter looked radiant, Claire’s focus was solely on her size. It was the final straw. Her journey wasn’t just about a number on the scales, but the realisation that being overweight was affecting her happiness and limiting her life.
Claire tried countless diets—some expensive and unsustainable—yet nothing truly worked. She began to think maybe age and menopause meant she could no longer lose weight, until a close friend’s success with Slimming World opened her eyes to a new possibility. She said, “I decided if it was working for her, maybe I should give it a go.” Now, just over a year later, Claire has reached her personal target weight of 11 stone and seven pounds, losing an impressive three stone and nine pounds.
She continued, “Food Optimising is really easy! Nothing is forbidden, and it just makes it easy to make good decisions.” In her group at the Springfield Park Baptist Church run by Sarah Watts, Claire learned lots of practical knowledge of how to make simple swaps in her meals, keeping her favourite recipes full of flavour without feeling deprived. One of the most significant aspects of her transformation has been her newfound love for cooking.
Most of the time, her family eats the same as her. Some family favourites include lasagna and chicken curry, which even her husband enjoys. With the help of the Slimming World app and the SW Kitchen subscription, Claire said it was easy to introduce new, delicious recipes into her routine, ensuring that variety and flavour never get lost.
“Every week having all the ingredients I need conveniently delivered to my door keeps what we are eating really varied. The recipes are easy to follow and the meals are really tasty,” she reflected. Claire noted that one of her biggest challenges has been accepting that a sustainable weight loss journey is not linear. “At times, life happens, and things can be difficult – it is important to allow yourself to focus on what you need to and remember to be kind to yourself. I have kept reminding myself why I joined in the first place, and I know from experience that if I stick to the plan, it works.”
Claire now says she feels “much better about herself”. The physical changes, such as losing three dress sizes, were significant, but the boost in her self-esteem and confidence was priceless. Her sense of joy now extends beyond the mirror—on her holiday this year, she embraced activities she had once thought were beyond her reach, such as horse riding and kayaking with her family.
Claire’s journey hasn’t just been about losing weight—it’s about feeling better in every sense. She notes improvements in her fitness, physical health, and mental wellbeing, highlighting how carrying less weight has helped her manage plantar fasciitis, a condition that had caused her pain in the past. She has built regular exercise into her life, including swimming and Zumba, becoming a new passion, further enhancing her overall fitness levels.
For Claire, the biggest health change has been mental wellbeing. Her self-confidence has reached new heights, and her sense of happiness is palpable. “I now know how to and want to make good choices,” she reflects. Slimming World has given her a framework for life, one that’s not just about reaching a target weight but about creating lasting habits that will carry her through the years and maintain her dream weight for life.
Claire added, “I now love the fact that I can still keep going to group, and access support from Sarah and my fellow group members for free. It helps keep me on track, and I can hopefully inspire and support others to get to their targets too. If I am honest, I didn’t believe it would work for me when I first joined, but I can honestly say the plan is great and effective.” Claire’s Slimming World group meets at Springfield Park Baptist Church, Springfield Park Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6EB on Saturdays at 8.30am or 10am.
Source: Essex Live
