BEING the best at losing wouldn’t normally help you to scoop an award — yet one woman from Launceston has done just that after being named the town’s ‘Greatest Loser’ 2018.

That’s because Vicki Burford has lost a life-changing five stone to take the title, which is awarded to the member of the Launceston Football Club Slimming World group who has lost the most weight, and feels fabulous as a result.

Vicki says: “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a loser when it feels this good! I feel like a new woman since losing weight — in fact, I look so different that people who I haven’t seen for a while often can’t believe I’m the same person. For me though it’s the change on the inside that’s been the greatest — I’m happier, healthier and much more confident now.”

Vicki joined the football club group, which is run by Jane Roberts, in March 2017.

Vicki says: “My weight impacted on so many aspects of my life, from struggling to find clothes that I like to fit to not being able to do simple everyday tasks without feeling tired and out of breath. Before I lost the weight I hated having my photo taken and whenever I saw pictures of myself I knew that my smile wasn’t real — yet now I’m beaming!”

Vicki’s weight was also putting a huge strain on her health, particularly her knees.

People who are severely overweight, with a BMI above 30, are more likely to suffer from health problems like coronary heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and cancer, and obesity is linked to a reduction in life expectancy of between seven and nine years.

According to Slimming World, in Launceston 61% per cent of people are so severely overweight that their health is already at risk.

After seeing a banner whilst driving past to work everyday, Vicki decided to join her local Slimming World group at the football club. She says: “Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, I remember sitting in the car in the car park for ages plucking up the courage. I needn’t have worried though, everyone there was so friendly especially my consultant Jane, and I was so relieved when I found out that my weight was confidential — I’d had visions of having to tell everyone how much I weighed!

“Since then I’ve made so many friends at the group and I honestly don’t think I could have done it without their support each week. They helped me with recipes and tips and if I was ever struggling they were always there to remind me why I’d wanted to lose weight in the first place and how far I’d come since first stepping through the doors.”

Vicki followed the club’s Food Optimising eating plan. She says: “People think slimming means going hungry, eating nothing but salad or obsessively counting every calorie you eat, it’s not like that at all with Slimming World though. I love food and it’s never once felt like I was on ‘a diet’ — in fact, people are always surprised at how much food I have on my plate and can’t believe I’m losing weight eating so much delicious food and without ever feeling hungry.

“I still enjoy all my favourite meals like burgers and chips and roast dinners but I’ve learned how to make small changes like using lean meat or cooking with low calorie spray instead of oil or butter. It fits in really well with the rest of my family and we can all eat the same meals. I know that I haven’t ‘gone on a diet’, this is a change that I’ve made for life and have the tools I need to keep up forever.”

Today Vicki’s lost a total of 5st 1lb and gone from size 22 to 12. “I actually enjoyed buying a new outfit for my son’s wedding in June.”

Vicki reached her target weight in March 2018 and has remained at her dream weight ever since.

Jane, who runs the football club Slimming World group, says: “The changes we’ve seen in Vicki are incredible. I hope her success will inspire other people in Launceston who’d like to lose weight by forming new lifestyle habits and become happier and healthier to take action. There’s a warm welcome waiting at Slimming World and, just think, if you start today you could feel like a completely new person just like Vicki.”

The football club group meets every Wednesday at 9.30am, 5.30pm and 7.30pm. To join call Jane on 07769734316 or pop along.