A mother from Middleton who lost 17 stone in weight over two years has set up a support group for women who want to improve their lives.
Sarah Clarke weighed 31 stone, 6 pounds in January 2022 when she plucked up courage and walked into a Slimming World meeting. She was suffering from life altering health issues and had to use a walking stick. She describes this step as the “beginning of my transformative journey”.
That journey involved support from Jane Mansfield at Slimming World, personal trainer Jake Leatham and an operation to fit a gastric sleeve, but crucially it depended on Sarah’s mental strength.
“It was important that I maintained unwavering belief in the possibility of achieving my goals. I needed to rediscover my self-confidence and shed my former self” she explained.
“It was like gazing into a rear-view mirror. As my weight loss progressed, the image of my past self receded into a distant memory. I directed my focus and determination towards the pursuit of my health, my daughter, and my overall well-being. However, the impetus for change had to start within me. I recognised the importance of embodying the transformation I wanted and needed. The process has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, and it’s been such a rollercoaster of emotions, but I’m super grateful.”
The Restoring Hope Women’s Group aims to “break down the barriers of isolation by creating a safe space for women as they are, and journey with like-minded women, empowering women.”
The group meets at St George’s Centre in Middleton on Mondays, if you would like to find out more please email Sarah at restoringhopewomensgroup@gmail.com
Meanwhile, Sarah’s health problems are not over. A side effect of losing so much weight so quickly is a problem with excessive skin which causes significant discomfort. Sarah needs an operation to remove the skin, but the NHS has refused to carry it out. So Sarah has set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money to pay for the operation privately. If you would like to support her please visit: gofund.me/695a82e7
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