Shawlands slimmer Carolyn takes ‘Woman of the Year 2020’ title

Carolyn is a member of the Slimming World group run by Kirsty Flockhart, which meets on Thursday evenings at Shawlands United Reformed Church.

Kirsty also runs two groups in Newton Mearns, on Tuesday mornings and Tuesday evenings, normally at Broom Parish Church, but currently running as a ‘Venue & Virtual’ format at Whitecraigs Tennis Club.

Carolyn was named ‘Woman of the Year’ for her own group in Shawlands, and also overall for all Kirsty’s groups, which currently include over 200 members.

Having lost 7st 8.5lbs by the time lockdown hit the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Carolyn just kept following her Slimming World plan, and has now lost nearly nine and a half stones – very close to her target.

Carolyn’s slimming journey began when she saw a dress that only went up to a size 18 – at that time she was a 22/24.

Her work had started a ‘weigh and go’ group as part of its healthy working lives programme, andshe was taking part in that before deciding to also join Slimming World. So although she has lost nearly nine and a half stone in her time with Slimming World, she has actually lost more.

Carolyn said: “My life has changed in a number of different ways. I am far more confident.

“I was embarrassed about how much space I was taking up before. I felt I looked horrible all the time. Since losing the weight I have become more confident, I’ve started to push myself into more things.

“I started the @buskersofglasgow Facebook page and I’ve made loads of new friends. I have started running and I feel and look so much better.”

“I can buy clothes in any shop now, not just larger size shops. And people treated me differently too. When you’re very heavy, like I was, people assume you are lazy. When you’re slimmer, they don’t think that and they don’t treat you that way.

“The thing is, I’m exactly the same person. But I was treated differently, back then.”

Carolyn didn’t miss a Slimming World group session up until lockdown, and even since then she has attended all the virtual group meetings and she always inspires members each week with her words of advice, sharing how she is getting through each week.

Slimming World groups are still open. Anyone interested in joining one of Kirsty’s groups can contact her by calling 07933 250130, or go to Slimming World to find all the groups in the area.