Penarth woman's newfound confidence after losing 77lbs

Kath Thorne-Thomas of Penarth launched her Slimming World group in 2022 after losing more than five and a half stone since joining a group just before Easter in 2008.

Since joining the group, she has managed to maintain her target weight of below ten stone for 16 years.

Reflecting on her journey, she told the Penarth Times that she has regained self-confidence and learned to swim.

She said: “Easter is always a reflective time of year for me, it was a week before Easter that I first joined Slimming World as a member 16 years ago.

Kath found confidence to take part in marathons following her impressive weight loss. Picture: Kath Thorne-Thomas (Image: Kath Thorne-Thomas)"I was desperate to lose weight, as I had been overweight for most of my adult life and suffering from poor health which was not helped by my weight and had low self-esteem.

“I didn’t think Slimming World would work, the first week I went to group I didn’t even get out of my car and could barely walk into a weight loss group.

"I am so grateful to the lovely consultant who phoned me and reassured me that this time could be different.”

Sixteen years later, she has lost an impressive 77 pounds in weight after swapping burgers for healthier food.

Ms Thorne-Thomas even returned to her childhood hobby of horse riding and learned to swim with her newfound confidence.

Kath before losing weight (L) and Kath now after losing an impressive 77 pound (R). Picture: Kath Thorne-Thomas (Image: Kath Thorne-Thomas)She added: “My weight loss journey with Slimming World has truly changed my life, and as I started to lose the weight my confidence has returned and I started to become more active.

“I wanted to go back horse riding which I enjoyed when I was a child, but when I first joined the group, I was too heavy to ride I have since returned to enjoying it.

“My younger self would never have the confidence to wear bathers and now I have learned to swim and even run a few marathons.”

Kath has become a team developer in the Vale of Glamorgan following her success as a Slimming World consultant in Penarth.

Kath was recently on the cover of a Slimming World magazine due to her amazing weight loss journey. Picture: Kath Thorne-Thomas (Image: Kath Thorne-Thomas)

She added: “Slimming World has changed my life twice. I became a Slimming World Consultant in Penarth and I am also now the team developer in the Vale.

"I certainly didn’t see a career change coming but I am loving every moment.”