By Geoff Fisher 
SPONSORED CONTENT
By Laura Cornwall
In 2015, I reached my Slimming World target after losing 4½ stone. My life completely changed. I felt healthier, more confident and so full of energy that I even ran the London Marathon. For the first time in years, I felt like myself again.
Then life took a turn I never expected. Just as lockdown ended, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.
My world became surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endless medication. Slimming World slipped away as I focused on getting through treatment. By the time I was given the all-clear, I had gained 3½ stone. I should have felt relieved, but instead I felt lost. I no longer recognised the woman looking back at me.
I knew I had to go back to what had worked before, but I was frightened. I was scared of being seen, scared of starting again, scared that I had let myself down. Still, I found the courage to walk through those doors, wearing a hat to cover my hair loss and a mask to protect myself.
The support I received was overwhelming. Every person in the room made me feel safe. There was no judgement or pressure, only warmth, understanding and the sense that I was not alone. I felt supported and surrounded by people who genuinely wanted to help me succeed.
Within a year, I lost all 3½ stone again. This time, it was not just about confidence. It was about my future health. Returning to Slimming World helped me rebuild healthy routines and rediscover my favourite meals: baked oats, risotto, lasagne and many more comforting dishes that made me feel in control again.
Reaching my target for the second time changed me. I knew what it felt like to lose weight, regain it, struggle, return and succeed again. It was then that I became a Slimming World consultant because I knew I could help other people who felt the way I had felt. If life has taken you off track, you are always welcome back.
The local Slimming World group meets on Tuesdays at 5.30 pm at Stimpson’s Piece Community Hall, Bartle Court, Reepham. For more information, contact Laura Cornwell, Slimming World Consultant 07359 593946.
Pictured above: Laura Cornwall before (left) at the end of her cancer journey, and after (right), back at target in the same dress a year apart. Photos: submitted