Amy McBean celebrated her achievement with double Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams, who praised the dedication behind her success and was “blown away” by her transformation.
Amy, who slimmed from 17st 2.5lbs to 11st 7.5lbs, earned her place in the semi-finals of Slimming World’s “Woman of the Year” competition after fellow members of her Hartlepool group voted for her to represent them. She was one of only 36 women who made the semi-finals
She said: “Before joining Slimming World, I felt trapped by my weight. My confidence was so low and I was constantly worrying about my weight. It affected my health and stopped me from living life the way I wanted to. I knew I wanted things to be different, I just needed the right help me get there. While weight-loss medications can be the right choice for some people, I wanted to make lasting changes to the way I eat and live, and being part of a group gave me the support and accountability I was looking for.”
Amy continued: “It was finding out my nana had been diagnosed with cancer and having her health taken away from her without any choice, that made me realise something had to change. I joined Slimming World hoping to lose weight, but I gained so much more, like having more confidence, learning to prioritise myself and a new-found love for fitness – it was the best decision I’ve ever made.”
She added: “For the first time, I found an eating plan that worked with real life. I never felt deprived, and I didn’t have to give up the foods I loved. I was still enjoying meals like, chilli chicken ramen, full-English breakfast and pasta, but just cooked them in a healthier way. I started making small, manageable swaps, that soon became second nature – like choosing leaner meat and using reduced-fat mayo instead of the full-fat version. Seeing the results on the scales was encouraging, but when my friends and family started noticing the difference, it motivated me to keep going.”
Amy says the support of her Slimming World group was invaluable: “There were weeks when I doubted myself – especially in the beginning – but the other members and my Consultant Gill have been amazing. The support and encouragement I received each week gave me the confidence to keep going. I always come away with new ideas. I learned so much – not just about healthy eating, but about changing the way I think about food too.”
With her confidence growing, Amy also embraced a more active lifestyle. She says: “Gill often spoke about Slimming World’s activity support programme, and the importance of activity for overall health and wellbeing. I started by walking on a treadmill and now I weight train throughout the week. It’s boosted my confidence and has had a postive impact on my mental wellbeing too.”
Nicola Adams, who made history as the first woman to win an Olympic boxing gold medal for Team GB, praised Amy’s achievement. She said: “The commitment and dedication it must have taken Amy to lose nearly 6st is remarkable. Success doesn’t happen overnight, whether in sport or in life, and she’s proof of what can be achieved when you stay focused on your goal. Reaching the national semi-finals is a fantastic achievement and Amy should feel enormously proud of how far she’s come. She’s proof that small steps and a positive mindset can lead to life-changing results.”
Slimming World Consultant Gill Barkworth, who runs the Hartlepool Slimming World group, added: “We know that losing weight can feel daunting, which is why having support is so important. Whether you’re starting your journey for the very first time, returning to Slimming World, or looking for support alongside weight-loss medication, we’d love to welcome you to our group at The Pavilion at Grayfields. Give me a call on 07934831010 to find out more.”
