Claire McKeown, 41, from Glasgow, has lost 12 and a half stone after saying she was "crippled" with pain due to her weight. She previously weighed over 25 stone and relied on eight Tramadol a day "just to get through" because of mobility issues caused by being overweight.
From daily painkillers to a new lease of life
Claire said she was "depressed, unhappy, and had very little confidence" after living on a diet mainly consisting of fast-food takeaways, chocolates and sweets. She now weighs 12 stone 13lbs and says her outlook on life has "completely changed".
She told Glasgow Live: "I didn’t feel comfortable in myself. I felt like people were constantly looking at me. I now have a new lease of life. I no longer need to take pain relief. I’m fitter, happier and more confident. Every day life is so much easier."
Joining Slimming World in November 2024
Claire decided to make a change in November 2024 and joined a Slimming World group in Colton. The class "transformed" her relationship with food, replacing non-nutritious meals with homemade meals like fish and chicken.
She said: "One of the biggest changes for me has been my confidence. Being able to walk into a shop and actually find clothes that fit me, rather than automatically going for the biggest size available, means so much to me. It might seem like a small thing to some people, but for me it’s huge."
"I don’t think I could have done this without Slimming World. Going to my weekly weigh-ins keeps me accountable. If I've had a bad week, there's no judgement. You simply draw a line under it, get back on track and try again. This journey has given me so much more than a smaller number on the scales. It’s given me a life I can enjoy again."
Praise from team developer
Sharon Kelly-Mitchell, Dunbartonshire and North Glasgow team developer, praised Claire for her hard work. She said: "Claire's 12 and a half stone award is so much more than a number on the scales. It represents hundreds of small decisions, countless meals prepared at home, choosing a Slimming World fakeaway instead of a takeaway, and most importantly continuing to turn up and believe that she could do it."
"She should be incredibly proud of yourself. Claire's determination and commitment have been phenomenal, and her story is proof that when you decide to make a change and keep going, amazing things really can happen."
