Ally’s back in her dancing shoes after 7st weight loss

A healthcare worker from Kenilworth who gained weight after being diagnosed with a lung tumour has lost an amazing 7st following a desperate plea from her daughter.

Ally Wainman, 55, lost weight after daughter Chloe, now 29, begged her to look after her health because she wanted her mum to be ‘around for as long as possible’.

“I’ll never forget the way Chloe looked at me when she gently suggested that I should try to lose some weight,” says Ally. “I know it can be hard to hear sometimes, but it was genuinely coming from a place of love. I’d had a tough few years fighting cancer – followed by the death of my beloved Dad – so prioritising myself had really taken a back seat.

“I knew I had an unhealthy relationship with food. I used it as a comfort – eating huge amounts of sugary or greasy foods and then feeling awful and guilty afterwards. I’m quite petite at 5ft 4ins, so weighing 18st 8lbs took a huge toll on my body, especially my knees and hips.

“Our family had been through so much – I knew I couldn’t have Chloe worrying about how long I’d be around, especially when I’d already lost one of my lungs. I decided to visit my doctor to see what weight loss options were available to me.”

Ally, who also has a 33-year-old son called Joshua and works at a private hospital in Birmingham, was offered a 12-week referral to her local Slimming World group – which she believes changed her relationship with food forever. She says: “I knew a friend who’d got on well with Slimming World, so I figured I had nothing to lose – especially as I’d been referred by my GP so I trusted that it would be a healthy and sustainable way to lose weight. I was so nervous on my first night, but it happened to be my Consultant Jacquie’s first night in group too, so we got each other through those first-day jitters!”

Part-way through her journey, Ally was told she needed a hip replacement. She says: “I’d lost a fair bit of weight, around six stone, yet my hip still caused me a lot of pain and needed replacing. I told the surgeon that I wanted to be dancing in my high heels afterwards… well just three months later, I was! I have no doubt that being lighter aided my recovery. I was prepared for it to take a while but honestly, I breezed through it.

“As well as all the dancing, I’m more active now than I ever have been."

Ally continues: “I feel like a different person. I’ve gone from someone who hid away at home to the first one on the dance floor, especially if I hear a bit of Beyonce! I couldn’t have done it without the support of my amazing Slimming World group – their tips, support and love have helped me enormously. Staying to my group each week has been the key thing for me – that’s my top tip for sure.

“These days I’m looking forward to the future – I don’t know what lies ahead but I know I’ll be dancing along whatever happens – in really fabulous shoes!”

And Chloe couldn’t be prouder of her mum’s new zest for life. She says: “I’m so glad I had that conversation with Mom about her weight. It wasn't an easy one but seeing how much her life has changed makes it all worth it. She's happier, healthier and so much more confident. Joshua and I call it her ‘life glow-up’ because she genuinely shines now. We're incredibly proud of everything she's achieved.”