AN Ellesmere Port woman who together with her husband shed a combined total of more than 12 stone is preparing to help even more people achieve their weight loss goals.

Tracy Mason will become the new permanent consultant for the Little Sutton Slimming World franchise from Monday, May 17.

She also runs the Ince & Elton group and says it is a "privilege" for her to pass on her experience to other members.

“When I joined Slimming World four years ago as a member I dreamed that I would end up helping other people to lose weight and now I just can’t wait to get started", explained Tracy.

"After losing six stone myself and having run my other group at Ince & Elton for over a year, it’s a privilege for me to be able to pass on the experience, insight and understanding that helped me, so that I can give my members the support they need to get to target."

It was seeing a photograph of herself at a friend's birthday that led Tracy to start her own slimming loss journey.

She said: "The catalyst for me was seeing a photo of myself at a friend’s 50th birthday meal. I was smiling on the outside but crying on the inside because I was so unhappy with how I looked and felt.

"My self-esteem and confidence were at an all-time low and I had to do something about it. I joined the next available local slimming world group and haven’t looked back since.

"My husband joined after me following a family intervention and it’s amazing having that support for each other at home.

Tracy Mason is the new Little Sutton Slimming World consultant.

Tracy Mason is the new Little Sutton Slimming World consultant.

"We couldn’t have lost 12½ stone between us without the weekly help, encouragement and understanding of our own consultant and group, and now it’s time to 'pay it forward'.

"As someone who has lost weight myself, I know the challenges people can face because I’ve faced them. I know the struggles people go through because I too have struggled.

"I’ve had good weeks and bad weeks, holiday gains and Christmas! And now of course lockdown! Which is why, along with the group, I will be there to support every one of my members all the way to their chosen target weight.

"Setting targets, sharing recipes and other ideas, and working together as a group to overcome challenges and celebrate success is so important to a successful journey."

Tracy said she had previously tried a number of different diets in the past but they were "never sustainable" because she would become fed up with restricting what she ate.

"With Slimming World I could still eat all my favourite foods, just healthier versions", she explained. "I never felt like I was on a diet. The eating plan encourages you to eat lots of tasty, filling foods like pasta, rice, potatoes and lean meat and fish, you are never hungry and no foods are banned so there’s no deprivation.

"Slimming World isn’t just about changing what you eat. Becoming more active is important too. I couldn’t run between two lamp posts before joining Slimming World!

"I managed to lose five stone with the bare minimum of exercise but needed a boost for that last stone so I joined a gym and found that I really enjoyed it.

"In no time at all I lost that last stone and still regularly run 5k a couple of times a week on the treadmill. I know this isn’t for everyone and our Body Magic programme takes the threat out of activity by showing people, many of whom have unpleasant memories of being forced to take part in activity at school, how they can build activity into their daily routine without having to take up traditional forms of exercise like going to the gym or running.

"Everything counts from walking to gardening to washing the car. I’m even thinking of maybe starting a walking group one evening a week, nothing strenuous, just to get inactive members moving with some great company and laughs along the way.

"As a consultant it’s my role to create that warm, supportive atmosphere to get people sharing their ideas and experiences to help others – it’s going to be great fun!”

Bonnie Campbell, who runs Slimming World’s Farfield Hall group in Flint and manages Tracy as a team developer, said: "Slimming World consultants are chosen for their positive outlook and because they genuinely care about the health and happiness of others.

"With Tracy’s experience of being a successful Slimming World member and already established consultant, along with her kind and warm personality and great sense of humour, I just know that she’ll be an amazing support to members at Little Sutton, cheering them all the way to their target weight."

  • Tracy’s Slimming World group is held at St Paul’s Church Hall on Chester Road, CH66 1QF, every Monday evening. For more information call her on 07455 222 708.