Sophie Scott, a 46-year-old from Earsdon, has lost 5st after breaking a comfort eating habit that left her feeling "stuck in a rut" and increasingly unhappy. She dropped from 16st 10lbs to 11st 10lbs, going from a size 18 to a size 12.
Trapped in a vicious circle
Sophie, who works as an Admin Assistant, said being overweight made her feel miserable and trapped. She described how her clothes were getting tighter and she constantly complained about having nothing to wear, even though her wardrobe was full. She recalled feeling "huge and uncomfortable" and having to buy bigger clothes, which made her feel worse.
Her lifestyle became less active, particularly during the Covid pandemic, when she stopped making home-cooked meals and turned to frozen foods and sweet snacks out of "convenience and laziness, but also comfort". She said: "The more I ate, the more miserable I became, and the more miserable I felt, the more I ate. It was a vicious circle that I desperately needed to break."
A change for her daughters
The mum-of-two said takeaways became a weekly habit, and she would often buy chocolate on the way home and eat it without thinking. After meals, she always wanted something sweet. She stopped cooking proper meals and reached for unhealthy freezer foods like chicken burgers and chips with sweet chilli sauce, full-fat mayonnaise and cheese, or frozen pizzas.
Sophie decided to make a change for her physical and mental health and to set a better example for her daughters, who were entering adulthood. She said: "They were growing up and becoming adults, and I didn't want them to see being overweight, unhappy and inactive as the norm. I wanted to set a better example for them and show them that it's never too late to make a change and prioritise your health and happiness."
A healthier, happier life
Sophie re-joined Slimming World, despite having given up on groups before. She said she was determined not to give up on herself again and wanted to make a lasting lifestyle change. She added: "Looking back now, losing the weight has given me so much more than a smaller number on the scales — it's given me a healthier, happier and more active life."
Her diet and lifestyle are now completely different. She does not drink alcohol and has not for almost three years. She eats lean meats such as chicken and mince, along with vegetables, and uses Fry Light instead of oil. Breakfast is usually fruit and fat-free yoghurt with a measured portion of granola, lunch is a healthy salad or homemade soup, and dinner is often a pasta dish, a vegetable curry or a salmon stir-fry — all home-cooked.
