Devon mum transforms from 'jolly fat person' after blaming genetics

A nan has lost four stone after years of thinking her weight was "in her genes". Frankie Titcomb from Barnstaple convinced herself she came from "big stock" and the weight she carried was hereditary. For years she tried to lose weight with meal replacement shakes, cabbage soup and egg diets, with nothing ever working for her.

The 62-year-old felt ashamed and embarrassed about her size for most of her life.

She said: "I was that fat jolly person, I never had trouble socialising or making friends. I would always be the first one to make fun of my weight before anyone else had the chance.

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"I dismissed the fact I was in constant pain in my joints and back, also putting this down to family traits. Deep down I felt ashamed and embarrassed about my size."

Frankie did manage to lose weight a number of times, including when two of her four daughters set dates to get married, but after the event passed the weight came right back. Her family also had a health scare when Frankie’s second daughter became seriously ill with anorexia nervosa.

Frankie said: "This was an extremely worrying time for all the family [and] as my daughter’s illness progressed, I needed to look after her two young children, aged seven and two. The girls eventually came to live with me for six months.

"Looking after two lively children, doing the school runs whilst carrying all the extra weight really took a toll on me. I couldn't run around at the park and just playing on the floor with them hurt.

"I remember saying to my daughter that for every 1lb she gained I would lose one and we would both come out of it looking great. I never kept this promise but my daughter kept hers."

The real turning point came when Frankie’s eldest daughter gave birth to her very premature twins, two little girls born at 26 weeks. The moment Frankie saw them, she knew she needed to be there for her daughter.

This was the point when Frankie walked through the doors to Slimming World.

Frankie said: "I was sceptical at first when I saw just how much free food I could eat without weighing and measuring, things like lean meat, fish, potatoes, rice and pasta - I couldn’t believe it. On top of this I could still enjoy measured amounts of bread, cheese and cereals.

"I was soon cooking fish and chips, curries, pasta dishes and roast dinners and not just for me, but my whole family. They never noticed any difference. When I returned the following week, I was delighted to have lost 4lb.

Frankie also started exercising at her own place and said she could move more easily as the weight came off. She said: "I'm still not a fitness enthusiast, but I do feel so good when I can easily walk up a hill and keep up with everyone else when we are out. I no longer have to stop and rest, holding the others up while they wait for me to catch up.

"My Slimming World journey hasn't all be plain sailing, there were some weeks when it didn't go so well. This was when the care and genuine support from my consultant and other members really picked me up. There was never any shame or blame."

Two years later Frankie reached her target of losing four stone. She said: "I was overjoyed. I remember jumping around the room with all my fellow members clapping and cheering. By this time, my little tiny Granddaughters were two, they each weighed just over two stone.

"I had lost the equivalent weight of them both combined. As I picked them both up, I wondered how I ever managed to carry that weight around with me all day. No wonder I was so tired and in so much pain."

Frankie has kept the weight of the over five years and has been awarded the Slimming World diamond member of the year award three times. She's now working as a consultant to help others feel like the best version of themselves.

She said: "I honestly feel ten years younger now than when I started my journey seven years ago. Becoming a consultant is giving me the chance to pay it forward.

Frankie re-launches the existing Slimming World group on Tuesday, November 12 at 6.00pm and 7.30 pm at Roundswell Community Centre, Barnstaple. Contact Frankie on 07849 180818 for more details or visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk to find your nearest group.