Local man, Scott Winans, from Mawnan Smith, had been living with high blood pressure and was not in a great place with his health when he decided to join Slimming World on January 16, 2024.

Scott’s family meant so much to him, he knew he needed to do this for them as well as for himself.

Having not really known very much about Slimming World, Scott decided to go along to his first group on his own. Even though Scott’s wife had friends that had successfully lost weight with Slimming World, Scott admitted that he was a little nervous about going but knew he needed to do something to get himself sorted out, and he wanted to do it for his family as much as for himself.

Scott was made to feel very welcome by the consultant Claire and all the members.

Scott said: "I remember sitting there as they talked about weight loss and the various dishes they had tired and ways that they had successfully used to lose weight thinking I am not sure that I can do this."

At the end of the evening Scott stepped onto the scales for the first time and says that reality hit and he realised he was in for a journey when the scales tipped 22 stone 8lb.

Scott was so surprised to learn that he would be able to lose weight and still eat lots of the foods he really loved, like eggs, pasta, chicken, rice and bacon. He wondered how he could possibly eat all these foods and still lose weight however Claire asked him to trust the plan and Scott has never looked back, saying

“With over 350 free and speed free foods that can be eaten in unlimited amounts, there is plenty of variety and no need ever to be hungry.

“No foods are banned, and members are able to enjoy measured amounts of higher-calorie-dense foods.”

For Scott the Slimming World App helped massively with overall motivation. There are Podcasts, features, activity videos and hundreds of recipes available.

Scott became more active following Slimming World’s unique activity program, Body Magic. The program encourages and enables members to build activity into their lifestyle at a pace which suits them.

Scott didn't set himself a target weight or a time frame because for him, it really did not matter, as long as he was making progress he would be happy.

Scott is a golfer and said: “Since losing weight it is far easier to get around the golf course not carrying the extra five and a half stone. Scott has also taken up running and this is his escape when he can’t play golf.”

Scott says he could not have been successful in losing weight without the support of his family.

“They were all willing to help by eating the same foods as me, because at Slimming World we eat normal, family food. Everyone benefitted and lost weight from my Slimming World experience.”

One of the biggest things Scott has noticed now that he is five and a half stone lighter is that he can tie his shoe laces without getting out of breath. Scott said: “I was so big it was difficult to do this and now I don’t give it a thought”.

In his first week, Scott lost 9.5lbs and he continued to lose weight every week. Scott became known as "5lb" because he always set himself a target of 5lb every week sometimes getting it sometimes not but on June 18 just five months after joining, Scott achieved his personal target weight with a loss of five and a half stone going from a 44 inch waist to a 36 to 38 inch waist and from a 18.5 inch to a 17 inch neck size.

Claire is so proud of Scott saying ‘Scott is so positive in group, he contributes every week and encourages others without realising he is doing it.

As well as running the Mabe group in the Community Hall on Tuesday evenings, Claire has opened a new group at Tremayne Hall in Mylor on Friday mornings at 9.30am.

Contact Claire on 07845 653110 for more information, or just pop along, or to find details of your nearest group, visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk