Slimming World consultants happy to be helping members in Oakham, Market Overton and Uppingham in person

Slimming World consultants say they’re excited to be back helping members to lose weight and improve their health in person.

Slimming World has been supporting members in Oakham, Market Overton and Uppingham virtually with online weekly groups since March, when lockdown closed all of the organisation’s community groups.

Now, following the easing of restrictions in many areas, groups are beginning to reopen step-by-step.

And the Slimming World Consultants in Rutland Sheryl Dixon, Lesley Storey and Sheida Esfandiari are putting measures in place to ensure groups comply fully with Government and local guidance so that their members have been able to return safely to their much-loved Slimming World groups from mid-August.

Sheryl said: “Our virtual groups have been a vital lifeline of support and I’m so proud of how my members have been there for each other through these difficult months and continued to lose weight and get more active.

“There’s nothing quite like the magic of our real-life groups, though, and research of our members during lockdown has shown that while our members have loved attending their virtual groups they’ve missed the motivational power and accountability of meeting in person each week.”

Lesley said members would be required to book the sessions before attending, which are shorter, and there’s also social distancing and hygiene measures in place.

Sheida said the group was looking forward to welcoming new members as evidence showed additional weight made it hard for the body to fight Covid-19.

Sheryl added: “We want anyone who’s worrying about their weight or health – especially if they’ve put on a few extra pounds during lockdown – to know that there will be absolutely no judgement at a Slimming World group – just lots of understanding and a very warm welcome.”

Slimming World groups in Rutland are open now. For more information visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk

In Bourne, a former headteacher was helped by Slimming World