Shelly Willetts, 51, from Brecon in Powys, gained weight after leaving school. Following the birth of her two children Shelly’s weight continued to rise, until a relocation to Portugal inspired her to join Slimming World and take control of her weight for good.
Twenty years later Shelly is now a Slimming World Consultant herself and has been named Slimming World’s Top Target Consultant 2022 to celebrate being successful in maintaining her target weight.
Shelly says: “I was diagnosed with high cholesterol in my early 20s after being checked out due to family history, which was a bit worrying given that I was so young. My dad had a heart attack in his early 30s and my nan died in her late 50s, so my own health was definitely on my mind. I was given a choice to either take statins or to lose weight. Even so it was a number of years before I found the courage to tackle my weight problem.”
Soon after her second child was born Shelly’s naval husband, Paul, was drafted to Portugal. She says: “The first thing I thought was “I’m going to spend the next three years in a bikini” and instead of being excited, I was horrified. I didn’t even like what I saw in the mirror when I was fully clothed, so I knew I had to do something about my weight once and for all.”
In March 2001, weighing 12st 7lbs and wearing a dress size 16, Shelly joined her local Slimming World group. She says: “Walking into the group was a little daunting, but I soon realised there was no need for me to worry. I’d found a group of people who all wanted to achieve the same thing, and everyone was so friendly and supportive.”
Shelley says: “There was so much choice, which meant I could tailor the plan to the way I like to eat. I loved that I could still enjoy Slimming World versions of my favourite meals, like Sunday roast dinners and pasta bakes. And I could still eat carbs! Paul and I could enjoy the same healthy meals - there are no separate ‘slimming’ dinners!”
Five months later Shelly hit her target ready for the family’s departure to Portugal, losing 3st 4lbs and slimming to a size 10. She says: “I thoroughly enjoyed our time in Portugal. For the first time in a long time, I felt really happy and confident.”
On her return, Shelly worked for the NHS until she decided to become a full-time Slimming World Consultant in 2012. She says: “I absolutely LOVE being a Consultant. Helping people develop new healthy habits and seeing them change is so rewarding. I feel so lucky to have a job which doesn’t really feel like work at all. Being part of that group environment really helps me to keep my own weight loss on track too. I get so much inspiration from all of my members, so I always pick up new hints, tips, recipes, and ideas. Even after 21 years, I’m still learning!”
Shelly also credits a love of activity for her success in staying at her target weight for so long and is a keen runner. Slimming World encourages its members to incorporate activity into their daily lives with its Body Magic programme, which helps beginners to get going at their own pace - and encourages members who are already active to take it to a whole new level.
When lockdown struck in 2020, Shelly discovered a love for the outdoors and believes that her running helped her through a tough time in her life. She says: “The first lockdown felt a bit like an all-inclusive holiday - we’d cheer ourselves up with food and drinks just to break up the days a bit. But with news articles telling us that being overweight was causing additional complications with people who had Covid-19, I was more determined than ever to keep the weight off. After all, the main reason I lost my weight in the first place was because of my family history of heart disease. I loved running when I lived in Portugal, so I decided to take it up again. Of course, the Brecon Beacons are very hilly which made running an additional challenge! I absolutely love getting out there though and find it great for both my physical and mental health.”
Shelly describes the past few months as being the hardest she’s faced in the 21 years she’s been at target. She says: “I sadly lost my dad to covid in September 2021. He did have some underlying conditions that were weight-related, which was very upsetting. It’s safe to say the last few months have been the most difficult of all my years at target, but the support of my family, friends and Slimming World family has helped me to continue to make better choices for my health.”
After such a hard year Shelly is delighted to be named Slimming World’s Top Target Consultant 2022. She says: “I never expected to win a competition. Walking through the doors of my Slimming World group was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Since then, I’ve found wonderful friends, endless support and a career that I love. And most importantly, I’ve found everything I need to stay slim and healthy for life - which is the best gift I could give myself.”