Maldon Slimming World consultant Paul Foster talks to Nub News about overcoming personal challenges, helping residents lose over 650 stone last year, and his aims for 2023.

After suffering a family bereavement and struggling with stress at work in London, Paul found he was using food and alcohol as a "crutch", until his wife suggested he joined Slimming World in 2015.

Eight years on, Paul has gone from strength to strength as a Slimming World Consultant, helping his group members lose a total of 9,106 lbs last year alone, and supporting 60 people successfully achieve their weight loss goals.

He told Nub News: "We understand losing weight isn't easy, so it's about helping people achieve what they want and when they want to.

"Before joining Slimming World, I'd always been very fit and healthy – doing lots of activity – but found it was starting to get painful.

"I went along to a Saturday morning group, learned I could eat lots of food that I enjoyed, and lost weight pretty quickly. Building in the activity I do regularly really did help, so I sort of took off from there."

Paul lost over two and a half stone, hitting his target weight within six months. He manages to stay on target most of the time but says people should not be too hard on themselves for occasional setbacks.

He said: "Some people take a very direct route, but most people – myself included – prefer a more scenic route. I don't want to feel guilty, and I don't want anybody else to feel guilty.

"When some people step on the scales, they say 'I've been really naughty this week'.

"This year, we're changing the groupthink, to say 'you haven't been naughty - it doesn't make you a bad person, it just makes you human'.

"It's just about getting back on track again."

"Everybody's journey is different, so we treat them individually."

In 2022, Paul helped 41 members reach their target weight, but wants to beat that this year. In the first week of January, Paul's members lost a total of 600lbs.

His advice to those struggling to keep up with their New Year diet is to "not judge yourself, forgive yourself, and come along!"

He added: "Everybody's journey is different, so we treat them individually. I treat people the way I'd expect to be treated."

Paul gets a "real buzz" from helping those who thought they would not be able to achieve their target.

Along with supporting his members, Paul uses his groups to raise money for good causes, raising over £1,000 for local charities. In January, he raised £120 in memory of the mother of two group members.

Slimming World groups are available at two sites in Maldon:

• United Reformed Church Hall, Market Hill – Wednesdays at 9.15am, Saturdays at 8am and 10am
• St Peter's Hospital Chapel Hall, Spital Road – Wednesdays at 5.30pm and 7pm

For more information, call Paul on 07900 570 262.

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