Two mums speak of losing incredible 27 STONE between them

Christine Robinson-Lloyd, who lives on the Wirral and runs her Slimming World Group in Whitby, Ellesmere Port, has lost 9.5 stone, and supports others in her role as a Slimming World Consultant in achieving healthier and fitter lifestyles.

Kelly Barker, who lives in Merseyside, is a teacher who has lost an incredible 18 stones 4lbs is an ambassador for Slimming World after being crowned National Woman of the Year in 2023.

That means, between the two, they have lost 389lb.

Christine Robinson-Lloyd before and after her 9.5-stone weight loss.

The two got to know each other via Instagram and have shared their food creations and their life stories, as both experienced humiliations earlier in life.

It caused both Christine and Kelly serious mental anguish and resulted in them both developing unhealthy habits and relationships with food that saw their weight become dangerously unhealthy and a risk to their lives.

Secretly binge-eating due to the ongoing humiliation suffered as young children, both girls were weighed weekly in front of significant adults at school, given special dietary meals and isolated from friends at lunch times, which led to both girls suffering with a negative self image and a lack of self esteem.

Kelly spoke of her turning point: “When my size 30-32 clothes became uncomfortable and too tight, I realised I had to do something, something had to change! My quality of life was so poor, my mobility was affected, I felt embarrassed to go out and be the mum my son so deserved, doing mum things, like going to the park, all things I avoided for fear of my son being bullied due to having a fat mum.”

Kelly Barker before and after losing 18st 4lb.

Christine’s story was much the same. She said: “The binge eating became an obsession, an escape and a feeling of control, but there was no control as it seriously put my health and life at risk as my weight crept up dangerously high, so did my blood pressure.

"My asthma was out of control, I couldn’t walk far without getting breathless, so I stayed at home and hid, getting bigger and bigger, food being my only solace.”

Both ladies spoke about various tried and failed attempts at trying all the fad diets going, as the quick fix options just weren’t sustainable, regaining any weight lost and more beside. Habits weren’t changing, they felt hungry, punished and restricted, so quickly gave up.

Finding their local Slimming World groups was the secret to their success; falling in love with a healthier relationship with food that enabled them to never go hungry, enjoy their favourite meals, cooked in a healthier way, saw both ladies, make changes that helped them not only lose weight effectively but develop new habits and a healthier lifestyle.

Christine said: “The lack of judgement or humiliation was huge for me, I felt understood and genuinely cared for, I learned to trust adults again, we laughed and the friends I made along the way was the icing on the cake."

Kelly referred to the group as: “I found my people, I found my tribe, so liberating, no hunger and it felt great. Slimming World healed my relationship with food!”

Both ladies leading healthier and fitter lives now, both making exercise a habit, which is part of their daily routine and both maintaining their slimmer fit healthier lives for good.