'I used to ache just walking the dog - now I've lost 8st and am about to run the London Marathon'
At almost 20st she knew her weight was interfering with her everyday life. But it took a trip to the doctor where she was told she was pre-diabetic and had high cholesterol before she did something about it.
Now, after joining Slimming World, she has shed more than eight stones. And the achievement means she is finally going to be able to achieve her dream of running the London Marathon on Sunday.
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Maria, from Carmarthenshire, will not only be representing Slimming World but raising money for Cancer Research UK, a charity close to her heart. She is also aiming to increase awareness of how keeping a healthy weight and moving more can improve people's health and help reduce the risk of developing 13 types of cancer.
The 44-year-old told how she had been overweight since her early teens. Despite repeated attempts to shed the pounds it always ended up with her putting the weight back on - and sometimes more.
Maria, who is now a Slimming World Consultant running her own group, says: 'Emotional eating and boredom have always been the cause of my weight gains. Being overweight affected my day-to-day life and stopped me from doing things others may take for granted.
"I found it difficult to walk and I did absolutely no exercise whatsoever. All this made me feel down and ashamed of myself.
'The final straw came in August 2021 after a general check-up with my GP. I was told I had pre-diabetes and if I didn't do something about my weight it wouldn't be long before it could develop to type 2 diabetes.
"I was also told that I had high cholesterol. Following this something hit me, and I knew I needed to make a change."
Maria decided to sign up for Slimming World where she found her start weight was 19st 8½lbs. But she says the support of the members helped keep her going all the way to her target of 11st 7lbs.
She said: 'Ever since walking through the doors of my local Slimming World group, the members have been so supportive. After losing weight alongside the warmth and care I received from my group, I decided I wanted to help others in similar situations to achieve their weight loss goals, and I'm now the Consultant for the group that I joined back in 2021.'
Slimming World's eating plan gave her the knowledge and skills to make changes to the way she ate and it was flexible so she didn't need to give up her favourite meals. She says: 'One of the biggest changes I've noticed to my lifestyle is what I eat.
"I was worried that I'd have to give up my favourite foods in order to lose weight, but I soon found out that this wasn't the case! By following Slimming World's eating plan, I made simple swaps like making homemade Bolognese sauce using the Slimming World app recipes, instead of using a premade jar of sauce.'
As Maria lost weight and grew in confidence, she decided to explore Slimming World's physical activity support programme, which helps members to embrace and integrate active habits into their everyday life. The programme recognises a wide range of activities, to suit all ability levels and budgets, and supports members to increase activity from their own individual starting point and at their own pace.
Maria says: 'Before joining Slimming World, I had a fairly active job as a gardener and would walk my dog, however it wouldn't be far, and I'd feel achy and worn out very easily. Once I had lost around 5st with Slimming World, I started to look into the physical activity programme to help motivate me and set some activity-based goals. I gradually built up my fitness levels with walking and eventually started running.
"Running the London Marathon has been a dream of mine for a long time, so I'm delighted to be running in aid of Cancer Research UK. I'll be running in remembrance of my auntie, who I sadly lost in 2004 to breast cancer and my best friend Darren, who passed away in 2018 to bowel cancer.
"I know they will both be watching over me and be very proud. Recently my dad finished treatment for prostate cancer, and my sister-in-law has just overcome breast cancer for the second time. It means so much to me to be able to raise funds for such an important charity.'
Slimming World Team Developer Siobhan Jones works closely with Maria to support her in running weekly Slimming World group sessions. Siobhan says: 'Maria is a real inspiration to us all and we are so proud of her. She works hard to make sure her members achieve their weight loss goals and her work ethic and determination has reflected in her marathon training and fundraising.'
Maria Williams is representing Slimming World in its 14-strong official marathon team on Sunday, April 27. The Slimming World members, Consultants, and Head Office staff come from across the UK and Ireland and between them have lost more than 81st (514kg).
The runners are raising money for Cancer Research UK, the Irish Cancer Society and Alzheimer's Research UK, Slimming World's official charity partners.
Money raised for Cancer Research UK helps fund life-saving research. Anyone who would like to sponsor Maria can do so by visiting her fundraising page.
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