‘My son saved up to buy me a present. I’ll never forgive myself for what I did’

Christine Connor, a 66-year-old mum-of-five from Gatley in Stockport, found herself trapped in a cycle of convenience eating due to her hectic life balancing work and family. Her reliance on ready meals saw her weight soar to a staggering 17st 4lbs.

The turning point came during a shopping trip with her daughter when the only garment she could fit into was a size 24. “After my fifth child, I was very overweight,” Christine confessed.

“I was working full time and running around after five children. I was living off ready meals and convenience food.

“This went on for years, but during that time, I put on more weight and stopped socialising as I was ashamed of how I looked and the fact I didn’t have the confidence to wear fitted clothing.

“I was so embarrassed. I knew I was overweight as I’d stopped buying clothes or going out, but I hadn’t realised I was a dress size 24. I was devastated.”, reports the Manchester Evening News.

With her 25th wedding anniversary vow renewal on the horizon, Christine joined Slimming World alongside her daughter.

Recalling the emotional moment, she said: “On finding out how upset I was (about my weight), my daughter told me, ‘I know how you feel, I feel the same way’.”

It was then Christine knew she had to make a change not just for herself, but also to support her daughter.

Christine achieved an astounding five-stone weight loss in just 18 months, leaving her feeling “buzzing” with the results.

However, as work took over, her Slimming World group visits became less frequent, and she noticed her weight creeping back up.

Eventually, Christine regained a stone and stopped attending the group entirely.

Over time, she found herself three stones above her target weight, and despite two years of effort to slim down, she gained yet another stone.

The turning point came when her son gifted Christine and her husband tickets to see The Moody Blues.

She said: “On one occasion, my son saved up and bought my husband and I tickets to go and see a concert.”

Her weight and lost confidence led her to refuse to attend, causing her son distress and taking her place instead.

This incident left Christine with deep regret, prompting her to recommit to her weight loss journey.

She rejoined Slimming World and started martial arts classes with her grandchildren, also embracing aerobics and Pilates by joining a gym.

This renewed dedication to a healthy lifestyle paid off handsomely; by 2019, Christine weighed a svelte 10st 5lbs, having shed a total of seven stone.

Now slipping into size 10 clothing, she beams with confidence. “I am now very confident,” she declares.

“I am happy about my weight and passionate about Slimming World, exercise and martial arts. I’m going for my black belt next year.

“The best advice I can give is to keep going to classes and stay. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me. The support, help and understand you get from class is amazing. I need the support.”

Christine has now been afforded the chance to lead her own Slimming World group, which she will kick-start with Thursday evening meetings at Heald Green United Reformed Church starting on October 24.

She added: “I’m so excited to be able to support others on their weight loss journey, as I have been supported.

“We are going to have the best group.”