A SUPERSTAR slimmer for whom food has always been her “worst enemy” is now living a healthier lifestyle after making drastic changes to lose weight.

Sophie Campbell, 30, who is a childcare provider in north east Essex, has shifted four stone in just six months after joining a Slimming World group in Colchester.

She decided to take action after realising her eating habits had become worse during the initial national lockdown and she was quickly gaining weight as a result.

But after 33 weeks of eating better and exercising regularly, determined dieter Sophie has dropped four dress sizes.

She said: “Food has always been my worst enemy, and during lockdown I just got bigger, so I decided enough was enough and I needed to make drastic changes.

Gazette:

“I joined Vicky Galvin’s Slimming World group at St John’s in Colchester in September last year, along with taking up regular exercise.

“The plan encouraged me to cook different recipes and enjoy plenty of fresh produce and I never feel I am missing out as I make lots of ‘fake aways’ from scratch.

“I am much healthier and fitter in general but yet I still enjoy a great variety of foods and still have my evening treat of a chocolate bar or packet of crisps.”

In addition to benefitting physically from her dramatic lifestyle change, Sophie, of Wivenhoe, has also experienced a sense of camaraderie and made some new friends.

She says this sense of togetherness helped her overcome any fears she had when it came to attending the weight loss sessions for the first time.

She added: “The support of the group encouraged me to lose weight, and week by week I was achieving little goals that I set myself.

“The group is really friendly and we always have a laugh and there is absolutely no judgement, which was always a big worry for me.

“I couldn’t have done it without such a supportive group.”

Vicky Galvin, who runs the St John’s Slimming World group, believes Sophie’s impressive weight loss journey will help to inspire her other members.

She said: “Sophie is such an inspiring member to have in group, she’s done it all in a lockdown and I’m so proud of her.”

To find out more about Slimming World in Colchester visit slimmingworld.co.uk/counties/essex/Colchester.