Duo joy at losing a combined weight of six stone

Weight loss duo Maddi Heinrich and Hayley Bridges are celebrating after shedding a combined weight of six stone.

The pair, both members of a Slimming World group in Stowmarket, said they were delighted with their achievements with one of them raising nearly £4,000 for charity.

Maddi, (pictured above before and after her weight loss) who lives in Elmswell, said it was her “mindset” which helped her on her weight loss journey and achieved her target weight just before leaving for a trip to Vietnam to cycle 450km to Cambodia raising £3,800 for Women V Cancer charity.

She said: “All of my adult life I have either been on a diet, taking dodgy pills or thinking about it, consequently, my weight has yo-yoed. So what was different this time? Very simply, my mindset. I was also starting to realise that now in my 50s, I needed to look after my health.

“At the same time as joining Slimming World, in a moment of madness, I also signed up for a challenge of a life time – to cycle 450km from Vietnam to Cambodia (pictured above). Having lost friends and family to cancer and knowing others still battling the awful disease I decided to raise funds for Women V Cancer who in turn support three women’s cancer charities: Breast Cancer Now, Ovarian Cancer Action and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. The plan was that it would give me a focus and motivation to get moving … and it did.”

The 52-year-old added: “I achieved my target weight just before leaving for Vietnam and I am sure being three stone lighter and fit for probably the first time in my life made the whole experience that much more enjoyable. I raised £3,800 for the charities in the process.

“To help keep me moving I have signed up for another cycling challenge and this time will be tackling the hills of Kerala and before that I will be raising funds again for Women V Cancer when I take part in Ride the Night London at the end of April. I can’t believe it is me that I am talking about – if I can do it, anyone can.”

Meanwhile, mum-of-four Hayley, from Stowmarket, (pictured above before, with husband Gary, and after her weight loss) said she joined Slimming World because she had stopped looking after herself and felt “awful and sad”.

The 40-year-old said: “I was unhealthy and had got stuck in a rut. Being a mum of four and two of them having additional needs life is stressful and busy. … always. I am an emotional eater and there was always an excuse not to start. I always made time for that one hour a week at group. It always gave me time for reflection on the past week.

“I would take so much away after the session. I concentrated on making lifestyle changes and worked so hard on my mindset and emotional well being. I always came at the bottom of the pile of priorities and towards perimenopause too. 

“I’m now in a healthy BMI range, having had gestational diabetes in two pregnancies. I will always be pre diabetic but my sugars are in a healthy range and my cholesterol is also in a healthy range and I’ve dropped two to three dress sizes. I finally feel healthy and happy about myself and have so much more energy.”

The pair’s consultant Zia Hull said she is “very proud” of both her clients for “achieving so much and inspiring my members in our sessions”. 

She added: “This is one of the things I really love about being a Slimming World consultant, being about to support members to achieve things they never thought possible but also without hunger.” 

Zia runs the group at The Rookery Bowls Club on a Thursday morning and is opening a brand new one at the same venue on Friday, February 24, with an 9am start. 

If you would like anymore information about joining Zia’s new group contact her on 07776 136438.