Woman sheds the pounds and has hip replacement operation

Janet Ross was diagnosed as morbidly obese and needed to lose weight to be successful in having a hip replacement.

The 66-year-old, who lives in Chedburgh, has now dropped a dress size from 32 to 16 after losing a total of 8 stone 6 lbs in 18 months.

She has now had the hip replacement and has also been crowned the Greatest Loser in Group at her local Slimming World session.

She joined the group after the West Suffolk Hospital advised her to lose weight to allow her to have the hip operation.The NHS is currently spending £6.1 billion on weight related illness a year.

Janet, pictured above before her weight loss, attends Slimming World sessions held at the Moreton Hall Community Centre and says her biggest challenge that she has overcome since joining the group is she no longer feels self conscious.

She found herself before losing weight isolated, not going out to places in fear of the remarks from strangers about her size but since shedding the pounds she can now walk again without pain and without aid or her sticks, crutches or mobility scooter. She is even playing football with her grandchildren and has the freedom to go into any department store.

She said: “I love food optimising; there is so much choice, lots of food is free in the plan, foods I don’t have to weigh, measure or count and then with my syns I can still have options and enjoy everything I love still too (in moderation). I enjoy making meals the whole family can enjoy. I love a veg-packed stir fry and salad.”

Kelly Cooper, her Slimming World consultant, said: “I’m immensely proud of Janet. To watch this lady transform in front of my very eyes has been priceless, this lady is a sheer inspiration and only missed group one week during her hip replacement recovery. She’s amazing.”

Pictured before her weight loss and after losing 8 stone 6 lbs with her Slimming World consultant Kelly Cooper.