A Slimming World member from Topsham, who has maintained her 3 stone weight loss for eight years and 10 months, has reached the semi-finals of a national competition.

Helen Patterson runs a Slimming World group in Topsham and uses her own experiences to support 40 members in the community each week.  

Helen was one of just 21 Slimming World consultants to reach the semi-finals of the Top Target Consultant 2024 competition. The competition celebrates Consultants who have shown a commitment to building lasting healthy habits and maintaining their weight loss.  

Helen lost weight after finding both her health and confidence were suffering and joined her Slimming World group in August 2014 weighing 12st 8lbs. She reached her target weight of 9st 8lbs in March 2016 and has maintained it ever since – 8 years and 10 months later.

She said: “Before joining Slimming World, I spent so much time thinking and worrying about my weight every single day and it stopped me from doing the things I now enjoy, like cycling and walking. 

“For the longest time I thought if I wanted to lose weight, I’d be stuck eating tiny portions and I’d have to restrict myself. I soon realised how wrong I’d been when I joined Slimming World though. Nothing is off limits, I learned how to prepare and cook all my favourite food in a different way. I wasn’t depriving myself, instead I was filling my body with nutritious and healthy foods and now I've lost 3st – all while still eating food I love, like pasta and chips. Better still, I’ve been able to maintain my weight loss for the last 8 years and 10 months.  

“I remember being so nervous when I walked through the doors of Slimming World for the first time. I also remember how quickly those nerves disappeared. Everyone in the group, including my Consultant, was so welcoming. It was so refreshing being in a space where everyone was on the same journey and cheered each other on – the support I’ve received each week is a big part of what motivated me to reach my weight loss goal – and stay there. I didn’t feel alone and I had ideas and know-how from everyone in the group, to keep me on track and inspired.”  

It wasn’t long before Helen started to think about how she could get moving more and Slimming World’s physical activity support programme, Body Magic, helped her build up her activity levels at her own pace. She says: “Now I love to walk for pleasure as well as purpose, and I really love cycling. I love that it’s my time for me, it helps me to feel great on the outside and the inside, and it helps me to manage my weight, too.” 

After losing 3st and reaching her target weight, Helen realised she had a passion for helping others and decided to train to become a Slimming World Consultant herself in September 2016. Now she supports slimmers at her group which is held every Monday at Nancy Potter House in Topsham.

She says: “I could never have dreamed I would be in the position I am now. I’m happy, healthy and in a role I’m so passionate about that doesn’t ever feel like work – and I have Slimming World to thank for that. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my wonderful Consultant and group members. They were such a key part of my journey, so the opportunity to do something for people in a similar situation just seemed perfect. I love the freedom and flexibility it allows me, and that I can still do my admin job at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. The training was second to none and I feel so lucky that I’ve been able to pay it forward now with my members – seeing their success is so rewarding.” 

Slimming World’s Top Target Consultant competition is open to the organisation’s Consultants who have successfully maintained their weight loss.