A DEVASTATING comment alluding to her as the ‘fat friend,’ changed Jodie Rigby-Mee’s life for the better.
The comment she overheard on holiday when she was 17, and a size 20, inspired the Leamington resident to lose weight – and she did just that shedding six stone and dropping five dress sizes.
The 32 year-old, and now award-winning Slimming World consultant, revealed other painful memories such as having to pick out men’s size clothing to wear at a new job.
She joined Slimming World with her godmother Marion in May 2002 and never looked back.
Jodie told The Observer “Everyone always said I had “puppy fat,” but I never grew out of it and when I went to college my weight became more out of control.”
“I thought everyone would really judge me for being so big at such a young age. My fears were completely unfounded though and the truth is that you walk into a room full of people who all feel exactly the same way as you do and who totally understand what you’re going through.”
Jodie began swapping junk food and sweets, which she would eat throughout the day, for homemade food and an eating plan known as Food Optimise.
Jodie said previous attempts at diets proved ineffective with emphasis on pills and shakes leaving her feeling permanently hungry.
Following her weight loss success, Jodie began working as cabin crew and with her new found knowledge of healthy eating, would often board long flights with tubs filled with healthy meals and snacks.
Jodie, now a married mum of one, has maintained her size ten figure for 11 years, even winning a national award for her long-term weight management success.
She added: “Losing weight when I did completely changed my life. It gave me so much more confidence in every respect.
I was able to pursue a career as cabin crew, including moving to Dubai for five years and becoming a safety trainer teaching people how to put out fires, jump down slides and float on life-rafts, which I’d never have been able to do at my heaviest.
“I married my husband in a size-10 wedding dress, took part in a bikini photo shoot for a magazine and had a happy, healthy pregnancy with my little boy.”
Two years ago, Jodie hung up her stewardess hat to become a slimming world consultant and help other people achieve their dream weight.
“I’m so grateful for all of the opportunities Slimming World has given me, so to get this award is amazing and I feel passionate about taking this opportunity to show people that it is possible to lose weight and keep it off – I should know, because I’ve done it!”
Beach ready – slimming superstar Jodie Rigby-Mee models a bikini. (s)
Jodie transformed her life after dropping 6st and five dress-sizes. (s)
A comment referring to her as “the Fat Friend” inspired Jodie to do finally something about her size 20 frame. (s)
