'Park turnstile shame made me change my life'

When Kim Penfold struggled to fit through the entry gates on holiday at Disneyland Paris, she came home determined to lose weight. Here's her story...

- HANNAH BRITT

In August 2022, I was the heaviest I'd ever been at 19 stone 12lb and occasionally my youngest daughter would have to help me put on my shoes. There was also a history of heart disease and type 2 diabetes in my family. I knew I was in danger of following a similar pattern and I wanted to be around for my three children and two stepchildren.

Then we went to Disneyland Paris, a trip that 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.

Those turnstiles gave me pause for thought.

Back at home in Seaford in East Sussex, afterwards, a newfound determination to lose weight began to grow. Even so, I'm not sure I'd have taken the plunge and rejoined Slimming World if it hadn't been for my best friend, Karen.

Almost a year after our Paris trip she finally persuaded me to go to a group with her. I'd tried before, joining and leaving so many times I was worried what people would think. It was the start of summer, and part of me wanted to carry on eating and drinking in the sunshine, then start in September. Karen wasn't letting me off the hook, though.

NERVES

Our Consultant, also called Karen, welcomed us with open arms. There was no judgment about my previous stints as a member, she was just delighted to see me back. I put my nerves to one side and decided that this time I'd fully commit, even if at first I did sit at the back, feeling shy and keeping quiet.