67-year-old nurse proves it's never too late: 9.5 stone lost and back to her 1986 weight

After dropping ten dress sizes, she reversed her hypertension and asthma, regained her confidence, and finally had the knee surgery she desperately needed. Her story is an inspiration to anyone looking to improve their health in 2026.

Looking back on my weight loss journey, there were plenty of dead ends. I subscribed to various weight loss plans that all ended the same way: I’d hit a plateau, then slide back into old habits. I won’t even get into the cabbage soup diet!

I’ve been overweight most of my adult life and needed to break the cycle of yo-yo dieting. It wasn’t just vanity — the constant aches, pains, and health scares put things into perspective.

From Rome to feeling at home

At my heaviest, I was over 23 stone. I’d avoid any socialising and excursions because I’d soon find myself wheezing and in pain due to exertion. I remember a trip to Rome with two friends. My heart sank when I realised our excursion involved a steep flight of stairs.

I heaved myself up while the group waited at the top. It took forever. I looked like a lobster and felt like my head was about to explode. That embarrassment was my lowest point - the moment I knew things had to change.

Then came a string of health problems. At 56, I was diagnosed with hypertension and asthma. My orthopaedic surgeon said he couldn’t do my knee replacement until my BMI dropped below 40.

I lost two stone on my own, but knew I’d revert to old ways. A group environment would keep me accountable, so my friend and I joined Teresa Seaton’s Burton Latimer Slimming World group in 2023. That’s when lasting change began.

Walking through those doors, I was comforted by friendly faces, people I knew from working as a nurse at Kettering General Hospital. I felt right at home and realised I’d have the support to navigate plateaus and come out the other side.

The path to positive change

I was determined not to fall by the wayside this time. Each certificate was a high point, and even small reminders boosted my mindset.

It’s the moments off the scales that make the real difference. Not needing a seat belt extension on planes. Using the seatback table instead of resting my meal on my own stomach. I regained confidence and it felt amazing.

Clothes shopping stopped being a chore. I no longer had to hunt for my size or rely on online shopping. Now I look forward to holidays without worrying about navigating hills, steep steps, or alleyways.

I’ve lost 9st 8.5lbs at Teresa’s group. The inhalers are gone. The blood pressure medication is gone. I had my knee surgery in May 2025 and can walk pain-free.

Facing challenges in a new light

Even when someone reaches their target weight, challenges remain, but with Teresa’s support, you’re prepared to face them differently.

One challenge is water retention after flights. It takes time to resolve and causes scale gains while you even out. The old me would’ve instantly returned to poor eating habits, but Teresa’s motivational talks bring me back when I’m feeling pressure.

The plan is versatile. It lets you swap ingredients in meals you love and adapts well for eating out and socialising.

If you’re thinking of joining, stay at group each week, don’t just weigh and go. The support really helps in difficult moments. With so many recipes on the website and app, ready meals from Iceland or Food Warehouse, and Slimming World Kitchen meals you can order online, you’re protected from self-sabotage, especially when you’re short on time or too tired to cook.

It’s tempting to think you can save the weekly fee and do it yourself at home, but old habits creep back. Your SWIPs will go from 15 to 150! Protect yourself from sabotage: stick to plan, measure everything, and write it all down — even foods that aren’t on plan. They’re just setbacks. We all have them. Recognise them and move on.

Before and after meal planning

Previously, my diet consisted of easy go-to foods: toast, sandwiches, chunks of cheese, or chocolate for snacks. Working in a hospital, there was always a steady stream of treats from grateful patients. In the canteen, fish and chips, lasagne, and pasta dishes were the norm.

Lattes throughout the day kept me ‘fuelled’ for 12.5-hour shifts on busy wards - or so I thought. Dinners and night shifts were worst, with meals at the worst times: sandwiches, crisps, or takeaways.

Now I enjoy nourishing meals. What I’ve found in Teresa’s group is nutritional education. It’s not just about looking good, it’s about giving your body the fuel it needs.

Typically, I have fat-free Greek yoghurt with fresh fruit and coffee with milk from my calcium choice. I’ll use my fibre choice for a sandwich with ham, egg and tomatoes, or tinned mackerel in tomato sauce. I regularly enjoy soups, fruit, and omelettes for lunch. For dinner, I fill up on protein, vegetables or salad, with air fryer chips or jacket potatoes to bulk things out while staying on plan. I always keep Hi-Fi bars, fruit, or nuts handy for snacking.

My go-to meal, aside from a Slimming World curry, is lasagne. I adapt it with 5% mince, lots of vegetables and pulses, use fat-free yoghurt and egg instead of white sauce, and top it with cheese from my healthy extra allowance. I love that I can still enjoy what I always loved with a few tweaks.

Reaching new heights

I reached 9st 8.5lbs lost with Slimming World (over 11 stone down from my heaviest) on 9th January 2026. I felt a bundle of emotions — so glad to have broken my last plateau and gotten through Christmas and a long-haul flight without any self-destruction.

Slimming World has been a complete game changer. I’m grateful to Teresa and the Thursday 4pm group support, which broke my cycle of temporary loss and regaining the same five stone repeatedly.

Teresa is an absolute gem of a consultant. She goes way beyond what I’d expect in terms of availability, any time of day. She’s quick to chase me if I miss a class, and her sense of humour makes sessions enjoyable regardless of what the scales show.

She’s knowledgeable about any questions we have and will source answers if she doesn’t know immediately. Thanks to Teresa, I’ve managed to continue this time and experienced a much-needed shift in thinking. Now I’m filled with excitement and determination to reach my target and stay there.

The plan is surprisingly easy to integrate into your lifestyle with plenty of free foods you don’t need to measure. The healthy extras add flexibility, but I still need to be careful with bread. At least I recognise it now and can plan for it.

I had to hit rock bottom to get here, where I can breathe and talk as I walk pain-free. I don’t hide from cameras anymore for fear of a bad photo. My self-esteem has skyrocketed, and I have positive goals. Right now, I want to join an exercise class for tone and strength. Never thought I’d hear myself say that!

I was a size 32. Now I’m a size 12, back at the weight I was in 1986! If I ever wobble, I conjure up that memory of me in Rome to set me straight. I finally feel like the only way is up, or should that be down?!

About Teresa and her award-winning Slimming World Groups

Teresa has been a Slimming World consultant for almost four years. She herself has lost more than 12stone with Slimming World and has a deep understanding of the struggles of weightloss but most importantly she understands the psychology behind it. In 2024, she won Up and Coming Consultant of the Year, nominated for Group of the Year in 2025 and to date, her groups have won six diamond and eight gold awards.

Each week, Teresa hosts eight Slimming World sessions at various times, perfect for fitting around your routine:

→BURTON LATIMER, Thursdays at the Cricket Club in Burton Latimer at 8am, 9.30am, 4pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm

→KETTERING, Saturdays at St Andrew’s Church in Kettering at 7am, 8.30am and 10am

If you’ve been inspired to start a healthier lifestyle, contact Teresa on 07447 918855 for more information, including new member offers.