Eastwood mum sets herself huge challenge after losing more than 5st

A slimmer from Eastwood is set to fulfil a long-held dream when she takes part in the 2024 London Marathon on Sunday following a weight loss of 5st 4½lbs. Alison Derbyshire, 43, is representing Slimming World and is one of its 17-strong official marathon team, which comprises of members, consultants and head office staff, from across the UK and Ireland, who between them have lost more than 105st.

Alison is running for Alzheimer’s Research UK to raise awareness of how healthy eating and moving more can protect our physical and brain health. She struggled with her weight when she started working and would often spend her wages on takeaways.

At 26, she joined Slimming World and was delighted with her weight loss. However, a year later when her first daughter was born with congenital problems, she regained the weight she’d lost. Alison said: “I lost my entire 30s to being overweight. I had no confidence in myself and wouldn’t even go into a shop on my own as I was so self-conscious. I’d avoid having my picture taken at all costs as I knew I wouldn’t like the result.

"I went on to have another two daughters at ages 34 and 35 and gained more weight after my final pregnancy. My breaking point was having to live with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. This meant my brain fluid wasn't draining down my spine and was instead pressing on my optical nerve discs making them swell. If it had continued, I could have gone blind."

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Alison said she knew I had to do something to improve her health and so rejoined Slimming World. She said: "Attending the Eastwood Saturday group each week has been such an important part of my weight loss success. Even if you feel like you haven’t had the best week, you always leave feeling motivated and all of the other members and your consultant are right behind you like they believe you can do it."

She has followed Slimming World’s food-optimising healthy eating plan and loved that it gave her the knowledge and skills to make changes to the way she ate without missing out on her favourite meals. She said: "I’ve been able to recreate my favourite meals and still lose weight. My go-to dish is a homemade nacho bake. I love trying out new recipes that my family will all enjoy and it’s always helpful to hear everyone’s tips and ideas at group."

As Alison lost weight and grew in confidence, she decided to explore Slimming World’s Body Magic physical activity support programme, which helps members to embrace and integrate active habits into their everyday life. The programme recognises a wide range of activities, to suit all ability levels and budgets, and supports members to increase activity from their own individual starting point and at their own pace.

She said: "Before joining Slimming World, I wasn’t active at all. I had no energy and got out of breath just walking upstairs. When I found out about Slimming World’s activity programme, I knew I wanted in. I now run, cycle, cross-train, swim and play badminton.

"My weight loss has put my idiopathic intracranial hypertension into remission and my knees no longer feel the pressure from my weight, making it much easier for me to exercise.

"I want to raise as much money as possible by running the London Marathon in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK, a charity which does incredible work to try to make dementia a thing of the past. It means the world to me to be able to run in memory of my lovely grandma who we sadly lost to Alzheimer’s.”

Slimming World consultant Amelia Christian runs weekly group sessions in Eastwood and said: “Alison is a real inspiration to us all and we are so proud of her. When she first came through the door, she wanted to lose weight and feel more confident – however, she had no idea she’d go on to run the London Marathon.

"She is proof that with self-belief, determination and the right kind of support from a group of people who understand what it feels like to struggle with your weight and truly care about your success, anyone’s weight loss and activity dreams can be achieved.”

Anyone who would like to sponsor Alison as part of the Slimming World Marathon team can do so by clicking here.