A WHOLE NEW ME

After losing almost 11st, Kim Penfold, 43, is stepping outside of her comfort zone

- KEVIN DONALD

Letting myself in through Mum's front door, I called out my news: 'Guess what? I've just got my 7st award!' My mum, Christine, and sister, Holly, both ran to congratulate me, which they always did when I reached a weight-loss milestone. But Holly had news of her own. 'I've been meaning to tell you... you've inspired me so much, I'm going to join Slimming World, too,' she said. 'That's brilliant!' I replied. 'Although I don't think I've done very much to inspire anyone.' Holly shook her head.

‘You look great, and you're always so encouraging – if you ask me, you'd make a good Slimming World Consultant.’ I laughed at that. It seemed ridiculous to think I could ever stand up in front of a group. As time went on, though, Holly's words stayed with me. Maybe she had a point...

I'd joined Slimming World several times in the past, but was never in the right headspace to make it work. I told myself that with three children and two stepkids, I didn't have time to stay for the full group session, and when I didn't get the results I wanted I stopped going altogether. Then, in August 2022, a trip to Disneyland Paris signalled the beginning of a shift in my thinking. The park turnstiles were tiny and, while I never actually got stuck, I did have to go through sideways, very slowly, while everyone else in the queue looked on.

FEELING DETERMINED