Woman from Ilminster shares details of her Slimming World experience

Zoe Watkins said “the first time I noticed I had a problem with my weight was way back in 2019 at my last Glastonbury Festival”.

Now she is “excited” to make this year’s festival “the best one yet and renew my love for my happy place”.

Here is what she said about it all: “I suppose the first time I noticed I had a problem with my weight was way back in 2019 at my last Glastonbury Festival.

“See Glastonbury Festival is my happy place and holds a special place in my heart.

“I can be who I want to be and leave my troubles at the entrance. This was not the case at the 2019 Festival.


A photo of Zoe at the festival

“Just looking back at pictures of myself from that time fills me with dread as I was the biggest I had ever been, unable to deal with the heatwave we were having and my feet and legs would complain at me at the end of the day because of all the walking.

“I had never experienced that before as an avid walker normally the miles I would cross at the festival other years would be a doddle, not including all the dancing on top.

“This particular year my feet would be really protesting.

“I left Glastonbury that year feeling defeated and heartbroken, not sure I ever wanted to go back.

“With everything I felt about that festival when it came to Glastonbury 2020 I thought I would give it another go and couldn’t believe our luck when we all got tickets.

“It was going to be different, I was going to be different.

“In March 2020 when we found ourselves in a pandemic. We were so sure it was just going to be a few months, so obviously in May, we were quite surprised when everything was still closed, and we were still locked down and possibly looking at a summer trapped at home.

“I work in a bakery, so I guess my normal routine hasn’t changed much, but because of some deliveries, I had started walking more.

“I was one of those people who initially enjoyed lockdown, no demands on my time, no rushing around, not that I didn’t miss my friends and family terribly.

“It felt that for the first time in a long time I could breathe and had time to reflect on my health and weight.

“I decided to enjoy my 2020 lockdown summer at home. By the end of September Autumn was just about here and I was in a much better headspace than I was the year before, so started to think seriously about my weight loss.

“My partner and I had cut out takeaways and had started to do a proper weekly shop together and he had even started to help me with the cooking.

“We were saving money and losing weight. I even lost weight over that Christmas and by January 2021 I believe I had roughly lost 2stone.

“Lockdown part two hit us and all of a sudden, I was looking at a February lockdown birthday.

“It was dark and miserable and at this point, I had started to miss my family really badly.

“So, for my birthday, I had picked up a lovely big cake from Tescos. As my partner hasn’t got a very sweet tooth the cake was practically mine.

“Why shouldn’t I eat my birthday cake? After all, I had lost that weight and was having to spend my birthday locked away so surely, I deserved this cake?

“This was how I justified it to myself in order for it to be ok.

“On the day of my birthday, one of my Facebook friends shared a post from our local Slimming World consultant about a ‘random act of kindness day’ and was offering free joining.

“As I sat there looking at my cake, I decided this was a sign and actually I didn’t need to eat the cake to feel good and undo all my hard work.

“Joining Slimming World and getting help and support was a more positive and healthier move than eating the cake.

“I messaged my consultant about this offer, and I have never looked back.

“Today I can tell you that I love the group and have made a promise to myself that I am not going to miss a session, which I have kept, even if I think I may have had a small gain I go (in the past that would have caused me to give up.) “I always stay to image therapy as I love speaking and getting support to and from like-minded people and my consultant Jill is just the best.

“I like how I feel about myself when I’m leaving group, no matter how I have done at the weigh-in that week, the group makes me feel positive and confident to tackle my week ahead. I love the fact that there is no judgment from anyone in the room only positivity and support.

“I am a self-proclaimed massive foodie and really enjoy anything from a salad with lots of fresh and pickled veg and cold cuts of meat to rubbish food like savoury slices, crisps, sweets, and chocolate.

“With Slimming World food optimising I can still enjoy all of those things but have learnt to keep the unhealthy food to a moderation.

“I also love keeping some of my syns for a sweet treat in the evening if I fancy. “I don’t have to deprive myself of anything.

“It really doesn’t feel like a diet because it’s not.

“Just over a year on from when I joined, I’m close to my 4stone award from Slimming World. I’m walking better, feeling better and my feet and legs don’t complain at me anymore.

“I now conquer big hills that a couple of years ago would have left me gasping, and with my 2020 Glastonbury ticket rolling over to this year I’m excited to make this year’s Glastonbury Festival the best one yet and renew my love for my happy place.”

The slimming world group meets every Friday at 9:30am, Archie Gooch Pavilion, Canal Way, Ilminster For more details to join Slimming World please contact Jill on 07795 517272.