An inspirational super slimmer from Feltham has been named Slimming World’s Consultant Slimmer of the Year 2015 for the work she does to help other people lose weight.
It all began after watching her mother suffer a fatal heart attack. Doctors warned Georgina Wallace she would follow in the same footsteps if she didn’t lose weight herself.
Now the 39-year-old, of Hereford Road, who has lost more than 8st to reach her current weight of 10st and dropped nine dress sizes to a slim size 10/12 since joining Slimming World in June 2010 said, shedding the weight hasn’t only changed her life, it’s saved her life.
Then 17-months ago she decided she wanted to help other people to trim down in the same way and successfully trained to become a Slimming World consultant and began her own weight-loss group in Hanworth.
Mrs Wallace, a marketing manager who was awarded in a ceremony at The Ritz on March 6, said: “I was 26 when my dad was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer. Then a year later my mum had a heart attack and died just days later.
"My world was completely thrown upside down and food was my only comfort.
“For the first time in 30 years I am in control of my eating. I used to treat myself with food when I was happy and comfort myself with food when I was sad or angry.
"Everything I’ve achieved has shown me that I am a strong person and I don’t need to use food as an emotional crutch anymore.”
After her mother's death in 2002, she nursed her father until he died 18-months later, and with the doctor's warning still ringing in her ears, she yo-yo dieted for more than seven years, at one point losing 7st, but struggled to manage her weight in the long-term.
In 2010 she joined Slimming World after hearing about it from an ex-colleague and has never looked back.
She has discovered a love for cooking, become more active walking around 20,000 steps a day including a 5km walk home from work and has completed 5km and 10km charity runs.
In October 2013, she launched up the Hanworth Slimming World group which she runs alongside her full-time job.
Mrs Wallace, who has been married for three years, said: "Knowing that every week my members are changing their lives and I’m helping them to do that makes me so proud.
"They motivate and help me to stay on track in my own journey too, so this award is for them as well as me.
“I’m fitter and healthier – my doctor says I have ‘perfect’ blood pressure – than I have ever been in my life, so I always say that losing weight hasn’t only changed my life it’s saved my life.
"I would love to go back to the hospital and thank the doctor who looked after my mum because even though I didn’t act on his words straightaway I never forgot them.
"My only regret is that my parents died before I took control of my weight, I know they’d be extremely proud of me though.”
Georgina runs Hanworth Slimming World group at The Scout Hut on Nallhead Road every Tuesday at 5.30pm and 7.30pm.
Before joining Slimming World menu:
Breakfast: a full-fat milk latte and a pain au chocolat or other pastry picked up on the way to work
Lunch: a pre-made sandwich such as cheese or egg mayonnaise, with a packet of crisps and a chocolate bar or piece of cake
Dinner: takeaways, microwave meals or more sandwiches with cake or biscuits for dessert
Snacks: biscuits, chocolate, crisps, slices of bread, chunks of cheese
After joining Slimming World menu:
Breakfast: porridge with strawberries and raspberries and a cup of black coffee
Mid-morning: a couple of pieces of fruit, such as apples, pears, grapes
Lunch: homemade soup or a chicken salad
Mid-afternoon: more fruit and a fat-free yogurt
Dinner: a huge plate of homemade chilli con carne with rice with a dessert of jelly and fat-free yogurt
Snacks: lots of fruit, fat-free yogurt and slices of Slimming World-style quiche, low-calorie hot chocolate drink and a Cadbury’s Curly Wurly or a small bag of Metcalfe’s Skinny Popcorn
