Donna Eddleston, from Moffat, and Sally Hullah, of Annan, are both members of Slimming World (SW).
Sally said: “I have always been overweight but my weight never really affected my health so I pretended that I was ok and that was just how I was made. However, as I got older I started having problems with my knees and was beginning to struggle walking any distance.
“The thing that made me join SW was my son setting his wedding date. I didn’t want to be a fat mother of the groom in the photos. A vanity reason rather than a health one but that was the start of my journey.
“As I lost the weight the bonus was that my knees stopped aching and I could walk much further again.”
She says her life is now “different in lots of ways”, from the health benefits of better blood pressure, to more choice when out shopping.
Sally added: “I’ve also made friends for life through SW and the plan has educated me in healthy eating that is now just a way of life – with the odd treat just ‘cos I’m normal.”
Meanwhile, Donna went along with her sister, she said: “I decided “why not”, I have been trying to lose weight on and off for years at home and always put it back on, especially during covid. I needed to get the weight off for my own health.
“I can’t remember when I last wore a size 12 but I am now and I now have a lot of people commenting on how I look and it makes me feel proud. I am determined to get target by next February as that will be a year since I joined Slimming World.”
Slimming World groups meet Mondays in MACC, Lockerbie at 6 pm;
Tuesdays in St Andrew’s Church Hall, Moffat at 5.45 pm; Wednesdays in St Andrew’s Church Hall, Annan at 3.30 pm, 5 pm and 6.30 pm; and
Saturdays in The Old Bank, Annan at 8.30 am and 10 am