How Amelia lost over 15kg and found her confidence
12th Aug 2025, Real stories
Amelia, 48, has two children and lives in Bedford with her partner and Springer Spaniel. Her life was active, dog walks, watching football and fitness classes, but after breast cancer treatment, Amelia found herself struggling with weight gain and low motivation.
“I used to be a healthy weight” she says. “But after treatment, I just couldn’t shift the weight. I tried other programmes and slimming groups before, but my head wasn’t in it. This year, something changed, I wanted to lose weight and have my reconstruction surgery”.
Why Amelia turned to Choose You
Amelia’s GP recommended Choose You, and from day one, she felt this was different:
“I tried slimming groups before, but they didn’t work for me. They were temporary fixes, and this was different. It wasn’t about counting or pressure; it was about knowledge. I thought, I might as well give it a go”.
What made the difference this time
Amelia committed to attending every session of the 12 week programme.
“That was the key, never missing a class. Every week, I learned something new. Things I hadn’t even thought about before, like how your mental wellbeing affects your weight. The sessions were only a couple of hours, with time dedicated to food, wellbeing, and open conversation, without the pressure to talk. My group leader was so knowledgeable. It wasn’t just about what you eat; it was about how you eat, where you eat, and why. There was no pressure, just support”.
A new way of living
Amelia found the approach refreshing.
“No one talks about your weight, unless you want to. It’s just between you and the leader. I started cooking from scratch, reading food labels, and making small changes, like sitting at the table for meals and putting my knife and fork down between bites, and being more mindful of portion sizes. I also became more aware of the salt and sugar in processed foods and began thinking more carefully about what I was eating.
The programme helped me increase my exercise, learn about gut health, and, most importantly, start to care about myself in a way I hadn’t for a while. I think about what we talked about every day. It’s not a diet club; it’s a mindset shift”.
Looking to the future
Amelia has lost over 15kg and feels more energetic and motivated than she has in years. She is also closer to her goal of having reconstructive surgery, which requires her to be under a certain BMI.
“You don’t realise how much energy you have lost until you get it back, it’s life changing”.
She’s also made lasting friendships through the group, and together, they are working towards their next milestones. Would she recommend Choose You to Others? Absolutely.
“I’d one hundred percent recommend Choose You. The knowledge alone is worth its weight in gold. It’s not a diet; it’s a way of living. It motivates you to make better choices, because you want to”.
Ready to make a change?
Choose You offers free, local support to help you build healthier habits that last. Read more about support for losing weight.