Mom of two sheds 117 pounds without weight-loss shots

By Ed Chatterton

An overweight mom who struggled to walk or play with her kids after tipping the scales at 20 stone (280 pounds) has shed almost half her body weight — without using jabs.

Chanelle Cross, 36, was left in daily pain and with low confidence after ballooning to a size 20 dress by gorging on crisps, chocolates, ready meals and full English breakfasts.

After becoming trapped in a cycle of comfort eating, the mom of two decided to join her local Slimming World group and has managed to lose an impressive 8st 5lbs (117 pounds) in just over a year.

She has gone from 20st 0.5lbs (280.5 pounds) to a svelte size 10 dress just by changing her diet and exercising and says she is happier than ever and able to now keep up with her two children.

Chanelle, of Nottingham, said: “I tried every diet going while I was growing up, from calorie counting to cutting out carbs and junk food altogether.

“I’ve always had a big appetite and found it hard to stick to anything long enough, even when it seemed to work at first.

“I never enjoyed the food that I could eat so would give up before I saw any real results.

“As I got older my weight continued to increase. I tried to manage it alone, telling myself a treat here or there wouldn’t hurt, but I’d be a back at square one before I knew it.

“I was tired of being in pain every day and not being able to walk, but it wasn’t until after having my two children, Melody, six, and three-year-old, Alistair, that I finally had the motivation.”

Chanelle joined her local Slimming World group after being diagnosed with plantar fasciitis — a condition that causes pain on the bottom of your foot.

She had been a member of Slimming World before and discovered she could receive a free 12-week voucher via Nottingham City Council.

Chanelle added: “Any nerves I had about walking into a group again didn’t last long.

“My consultant Hayley made me feel welcome straight away, and it wasn’t long before I remembered why I’d enjoyed being a member before.

“It felt nice to be surrounded by people who are all working towards the same goal — and genuinely rooting for you.

“I knew the Slimming World food optimising plan worked but my head just wasn’t in it at the time.

“I’d make excuses for myself whenever I lost a couple of pounds and then found myself right back where I started.

“This time was different though. My mental and physical health was at an all-time low and I wanted to be the best version of myself, not just for me but for my family too.

“Hayley suggested keeping a food diary in my first weeks. It helped me spot where I was going off track and plan ahead better, which made a huge difference.

“I’ve always been a bit of a snacker, so I made sure I had healthy snacks, like fish sticks, fruit or Slimming World hi-fi bars, with me whenever I was out with the kids.

“It was a simple change, but it made staying on track a lot easier.”

She says joining Slimming World helped her develop a healthier relationship with food while still enjoying her favorite meals.

Chanelle said: “Before joining Slimming World, I didn’t think give much thought to what I was eating and how it was affecting my health.

“My relationship with food has completely changed now. Instead of grabbing whatever’s easiest, I make sure I have healthy options ready for the week, like overnight oats for breakfast or a homemade wrap using the Slimming World wraps.

“I’m keeping track of what I eat, without having to count my calories or measure everything I eat and it’s so freeing. And it’s helped me build habits I know I can stick to.

“Dinner times have become more enjoyable too, especially for the kids, who are trying new flavors and foods now.

“I used to hate exercising and the pain in my foot made it difficult.

“But Slimming World’s active lifestyle program helped me see exercising can be fun if you find the right activity for you.

“There are so many different workouts to choose from on the Slimming World app, and I like following dance fitness videos on YouTube too.

“As I lost weight, my foot pain improved and now I can walk up the stairs and run around after my kids in the park without needing to stop to catch my breath every few minutes.”

Before menu

Breakfast: A big bowl of sugary cereal or a full English breakfast with four hash browns and bacon with fat on

Lunch: Leftover dinner from night before — curry from a jar or a ready meal

Dinner: Chicken or black beans stew and fried dumplings using oil

Snacks: A share bag of crisps, chocolates or two small pots of trifles.

After menu

Breakfast: Overnight oats with fresh berries and honey

Lunch: Slimming World Korean-style beef noodles from Iceland or sweet baked potato with roasted veg and reduced-fat cheese

Dinner: Homemade pizza pasta bake, fakeaway-style Jamaican patties, diet cola chicken and homemade chips

Snacks: Slimming World hi-fi bar or a fruit bowl with fat-free Greek yogurt