Slimmers from Carlisle and Eden are making a comeback as their Slimming World groups reopen, local consultants are excited to be back helping members to lose weight and improve their health in person.

Slimming World has been supporting members virtually in weekly groups since March when lockdown closed community groups. Now following the current easing of restrictions in many areas, groups are open.

Team developers Andrea Brough and Denise Broughton have been working with their teams of consultants to make sure all measures are put in place to ensure groups comply fully with government and local guidance and that their members can return safely to their much loved slimming world groups.

Manda Hardy’s was one of the last groups to reopen on the team on September 7, she said: “I’m delighted to finally be back together with my members. Our virtual groups have been a vital lifeline of support and I’m so so proud of how many members have been there for each other through these difficult months and continued to lose weight and get more active.

"There’s nothing quite like the magic of our real life groups, and research from our members during lockdown has shown that while our members have loved attending their virtual groups they’ve missed the motivational power and accountability of meeting in person each week.”

Consultants across the teams have been working together to make sure the health and safety of members is a top priority in planning the return of all slimming world groups in the area, members will find a few things have changed in there groups to ensure that everyone feels as safe, confident and comfortable as they possibly can.

This includes appropriate social distancing, hygiene measures and shorter sessions, which we now ask members to book in to before attending. what hasn’t changed is the gorgeous warm welcome, feeling of togetherness and the joy of being ‘in it together’ week on week.

Slimming World member Emma Brown from Penrith has lost five stone so far herself, she said: “I want anyone who is worrying about their weight or health especially if they’ve put on a few extra pounds or stones due to lockdown or any other reason, to know that there will be absolutely no judgement at a Slimming World group, just lots of understanding and a very warm welcome by the consultant and other members.

"Losing weight isn’t about going hungry, I have a husband and four young children and it works for us all. The children love to make slimming world pizza’s together, which is fun and more healthy for them. At Slimming World losing weight isn’t about going hungry and feeling deprived. The eating plan is so easy, very delicious and super generous.

"I’ve also found the love of body magic too in the form of walking, and this gives me that most important time just for me. I always thought body magic was about running marathons or joining classes but it’s whatever you want it to be, as long as you get warmer and your heart rate is slightly faster. It all counts.

"I also learned that housework can be part of this. And I’ve recently found the confidence to join a local ladies only rugby team, called Penrith Panthers senior ladies.”

All Slimming World groups in your area are now fully open. For more information and to find your local convenient consultant please visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk.

Due to new safety measures all members are asked to book into a group before attending and you can discover what a real life Slimming World group will look like with all the safety measures in place at http://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/blog/discover-keeping-you-safe/