Sunderland woman who had life saving gastric surgery to become Slimming World consultant and help others after incredible transformation

A woman who had life-saving surgery to control her weight issues is to become a slimming consultant to help others facing the same struggles she has endured.
Jacquelyn Fletcher before and after losing 6 1/2stJacquelyn Fletcher before and after losing 6 1/2st
Jacquelyn Fletcher before and after losing 6 1/2st

Jacquelyn Fletcher, 55, from Houghton, who weighed 17st, was told by doctors she needed to have gastric band surgery as she faced health problems.

Jacquelyn’s family has a history of heart conditions, meaning the news from doctors left her seriously worried for her future.

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After undergoing the surgery and with the help of Slimming World, she lost 6 ½st, and now weighs just 10 ½st.

Jacquelyn now wants to help others who are going through the same struggles she felt by becoming a Slimming World consultant – a new career path she is embarking on after being made redundant from her job in IT.

“My relationship with food has always been difficult for me,” she said.

"I would eat too much junk food and sweets and not realise what it was doing to my health. After having my surgery, I still struggled knowing what I should and shouldn’t eat.

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"That’s when I joined Slimming World, which completely changed my outlook on everything.

“Over the years I’ve tried every type of diet but my weight has always gone up and down, until I joined Slimming World, which helped me get to a weight I feel healthy and confident with. I often say, the surgery saved my life but Slimming World saved my mind.”

For many years, Jacquelyn said she struggled to have a positive relationship with food, causing her diet to spiral and consist of unhealthy choices, which was having a serious affect on her physical and mental health.

“I grew up in a sweet shop which my family owned, so I was born into bad eating habits from a young age,” she said.

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"Sweets, chocolates crisps, pies, pasties, fast food, you name it. I wasn’t in a healthy place at all until I got older and got to the point where I needed to make a change.”

Jacquelyn’s Slimming World group will be held at Newbottle Workingmens Club every Tuesday at 5pm and 7pm from September 29.

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