Jo Pollard is Pinhoe's greatest loser!

Usually someone might be offended to be called a loser but Jo Pollard is delighted. The proud mum of four has been named Pinhoe’s Slimming World Greatest Loser 2014 because she’s lost a fantastic 7st 8.5lbs

The super slimmer bagged the prize, which was awarded to the member of the Pinhoe Friday Slimming World group who has lost the most weight, and says her weight loss has changed her life: “I feel like a new woman since losing weight – in fact, I look so different that people who I haven’t seen for a while often can’t believe I’m the same person. But for me it’s the change on the inside that’s been the biggest – I’m happier, healthier and lots more confident now.”

Jo weighed over 17 stone when she joined the Heavitree group, which is run by Lyndsay Hesp, in March 2013 losing a fantastic 4 stone 8.5lbs by September 2013. Due to personal circumstances Jo became unable to attend the group she loved in Heavitree, Jo says “being in group, being a part of a group of like minded people who support each other is vital and not being able to attend Lyndsay’s group was a real blow. However, I checked out online to see what other groups were available, my confidence had grown by losing the weight already, I would never have done this before. Anyway I found Penni’s group at America Hall in Pinhoe, I was made to feel so welcome and it was a real relief to know that I could go to any group and still get all the support, ideas, friendship that I had experienced in Heavitree.” She says: “Before, I lost the weight I always tried to shrink into the background and avoid drawing attention to myself. I’d pretend it didn’t bother me that I was bigger than most other people, but that was far from the truth. I hated shopping for clothes and found playing with my children/just climbing up stairs/just doing normal everyday tasks would leave me tired and out of breath. It got to the point that I never went out, never took my kids anywhere.”

Jo’s weight was also putting a huge strain on her health. I suffered from cronic stomach pains that were getting worse, being so big I wouldn’t go to the doctors though the thought of showing someone my stomach horrified me so I just put up with it, as the weight dropped off my stomach got bigger and the pains worse after losing 5stone I plucked up the courrage to see a doctor. my weight had been masking a huge hernia which I then had repaired, which the surgeon was only able to do because I had lost the weight. People who are severely overweight, with a BMI* above 30, are more likely to suffer from health problems like coronary heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and cancer, and obesity is linked to a reduction in life expectancy of between seven and nine years.

After checking out the Slimming World website Jo decided to join the local Slimming World group at St Michaels School in Heavitree. She says: “Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, I was embarrassed about my size and scared that I might be the biggest person there. I needn’t have worried though, everyone there was so friendly especially my Consultant Lyndsay and I was so relieved when I found out that my weight was confidential between me and her – I’d had visions of having to tell everyone how much I weighed! Since then I’ve made so many friends at the group and I honestly don’t think I could have done it without their support each week. At first it seemed daunting and impossible that I’d be able to lose 10lbs never mind 7 stone 8.5lbs. I lost 10lbs in my first week, I couldn’t believe it, I was never hungry, ate loads of filling foods and it was just the start! The members of the group helped me with recipes and tips and if I was ever struggling they were always there to remind me why I’d wanted to lose weight in the first place and how far I’d come since first stepping through the doors.”

Jo followed the club’s Food Optimising eating plan and swapped bacon butties for Cottage Pie and Slimming World chips, She says: “People think slimming means going hungry, eating nothing but salad, obsessively counting every calorie you eat and weighing or measuring everything on your plate, but it’s not like that at all at Slimming World. I love food and it’s never once felt like I was on ‘a diet’. I still enjoy all my favourite meals like burgers and chips and roast dinners but I’ve learned how to make small changes like using lean meat or cooking with low calorie spray instead of oil or butter. It fits in really well with the rest of my family as well so we can all enjoy the same meals.I tell every one who asks me slimming world isnt a diet its just healthy eating for life.

Now Jo’s lost a total of 7 stone and 8.5lbs and gone from size 22 to size 8. She’s also more active nowadays and has a springer spaniel who she walks twice a day without fail. The whole family feels the benefits of slimming world. only last week I fitted on the childrens rollercoaster at crealy, thinking about it still brings a smile to my face. slimming world has changed my life!

Lyndsay who runs the Heavitree Group and Penni who runs the Pinhoe Slimming World group, say “The changes we’ve seen in Jo are incredible – she is such an inspiration to the groups and we I hope her success will inspire other people in Exeter who’d like to lose weight by forming new lifestyle habits and become happier and healthier to take action. There’s a warm welcome waiting at Slimming World and, just think, if you start today you could be a completely new person before 2015.”

Each of Slimming World’s 11,000 groups in the UK and Ireland has their own Greatest Loser 2014 and winners will go forward to the national competition. Jo is now waiting to find out if she’s in the running for the £3,000 cash prize. She says: “I would love to win but I didn’t lose weight to win a competition, I wanted to feel healthier and better about myself and I’ve definitely done that. I feel great and that’s priceless.”

The Heavitree group meets every Wednesday at 7pm at St Michaels School, South Lawn Terrace, Heavitree and the Pinhoe group meets every Thursday at 5.15pm and 7.15pm and Friday at 9.30am and 11.30am at America Hall, De La Rue Way, Pinhoe For more information contact Lyndsay on 07816 223803 or Penni on 07792 358231 or check out our facebook page – Exeter Slimming World Page for details of local groups.