A LOCAL woman is opening a Slimming World group after her own successful weight loss helped her conquer her battle with depression.

Sarah Ruffett said: “It felt like a never ending circle. I would feel depressed and eat, then feel worse because I was putting on weight. On the outside I smiled but on the inside I felt numb and lifeless.”

This lack of confidence prevented her from taking part in many everyday activities. She despised clothes shopping and never felt happy when trying on clothes, which knocked her confidence even more.

She also backed away from exercise because she always felt self-conscious. Sarah tried to exercise at home with DVDs but struggled with the motivation to persist.

When Sarah had her daughter she decided that enough was enough and after seeing an advert joined Slimming World. She added: “It was difficult walking through the door but I shouldn’t have worried. I was welcomed in and instantly supported.”

Sarah lost 4½lbs in her first week and began to feel a change. “The plan is so easy, I don’t deny myself anything and I’m never hungry – the more I ate the more I lost,” she said. “I enjoyed meeting new people and have made new friends, many who have been in the same place as me. We all support and inspire each other and on those weeks when you’ve had a bad week they are there to pick you up.”

Sarah began to find that as the weight came off her confidence grew. Activities that were once off limits slowly appeared possible.

She said: “The most important change for me is that I can now run around and play with my children. I no longer have to be the person who holds the bags at theme parks because I’m too scared that I’ll get stuck in the seats. I’m now the first person on them!”

Sarah has also found that taking charge of her weight has allowed her to take charge of other areas of her life.

She said: “I never thought I’d say this but I actually have started to enjoy exercising! It’s helped me to tone up areas and has also helped me to start to enjoy clothes shopping again.”

Sarah has lost two stone with Slimming World and is relaunching an existing group at Oake village hall each Thursday, starting on Thursday, September 7. To find out more call her on 07841 385748.