Keeping It Real at Slimming World Colne

In a world obsessed with calorie-counting apps and quick-fix diets, Slimming World offers something refreshingly real. It’s about wholesome food, genuine support, and lasting results – and for over a decade, Gwen at Slimming World Colne has been helping people achieve exactly that.

Gwen first walked through the doors of Slimming World herself back in 2009. Like so many others, she was searching for a way to lose weight that truly worked.

“You’ve got to find a starting point, and the starting point is walking through those doors,” she says. “Slimming World is the best way to lose weight because it’s all about real, natural food. Once you see those fantastic results, your motivation takes care of itself.”

That blend of support and practicality has kept Gwen and her members coming back week after week. Her groups are warm, welcoming, and full of camaraderie – spaces where members share their wins, challenges, and ideas without judgment.

“You’re surrounded by people who understand what it’s like,” Gwen explains. “You might be stuck for lunch ideas, and suddenly, twenty people are offering suggestions. People still think it’s just about weigh-ins, but it’s so much more than that – it’s a place for honest, member-focused conversation.”

Accountability plays a huge part, too. Gwen believes that’s where Slimming World truly shines.

“When you’re on your own, it’s easy to lose focus and think, ‘I’ll just give up today.’ But when you’re in a group where everyone’s cheering you on, it changes everything.”

The friendships built in those groups often last far beyond the numbers on the scales. Members rediscover their confidence, community, and pride.

“When you’re in a group where everyone’s cheering you on, it changes everything.”

Gwen has witnessed transformations that go far beyond weight loss.

“Group member Alison would never have considered a park run this time last year,” Gwen explains. “But she’s running her 10th run on Saturday and is running 10k regularly. She’s lost a fabulous 4st.”

“Slimming World and group means everything to me,” Alison says. “I’ve found a new way of living and I’m loving the confidence it has given me, staying in the group every week is my time just for me, I love my group and the new me!”

“I’ve seen members who struggled to conceive go on to have children. I’ve seen Type 2 diabetes reversed. And sometimes, it’s as simple as someone wearing colour again for the first time in years. It’s life-changing.”

With the rise of weight-loss medication, some wonder if a group like Slimming World still has a place. Gwen’s answer is a resounding yes.

“We support people on weight-loss medication too,” she says. “Because it’s still about changing your relationship with food – understanding your triggers, why you eat when you’re not hungry, and learning how to fill your stomach with real, nourishing food so you feel satisfied. There’s no miracle cure – it’s about sustainable, happy, healthy eating.”

For Gwen, it always comes back to that first brave step.

“The hardest part is walking through the door,” she says. “Forget past failures and just be brave. When you arrive, you’ll find a room full of people ready to welcome you – me especially.”

Join Gwen’s Slimming World Groups

Tuesday: 7.30am–9am – St John’s Methodist Church, Colne

Wednesday: 6pm – Walton Community Centre (opposite Farmfoods), Nelson

Thursday: 5.30pm–7pm – Rainhill Centre, Barnoldswick

ColneLife Winter 25/26