A WOMAN from Abergele has celebrated shedding almost six stone in 15 months, and reversing her Type 2 diabetes in doing so.

Linzi Hughes, a 49-year-old mother-of-two, joined the town’s Slimming World class, based at Eglwys Mynydd Seion, in January 2022, when she weighed 17 stone and 13 pounds.

Now, with the help of the new friends she has made at the group and her Slimming World consultant, Pauline Jones, Linzi weighs 12 stone and one pound.

Rhyl Journal: Linzi Hughes in September 2021Linzi Hughes in September 2021 (Image: Linzi Hughes)

An appointment with her diabetic nurse also found that, thanks to her weight loss, Linzi is “back in the normal range” with her diabetes again.

The changes she has made to her life have felt “wonderful”, she said.

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Linzi, a carer, said: “I had found out I had diabetes (in January 2022), and wanted to get rid of that, and I just wanted to get healthy, for the children.

“I don’t exercise a hell of a lot more now; I’ve just stuck to a plan. It’s quite easy as long as you do that. It’s just about eating the right things – veg, ‘speed food’, chicken, turkey, things like that.

“Pauline has been absolutely wonderful; I don’t know what I’d do without her. I feel in a much better place mentally; I actually look forward to going to the classes. I’ve got loads of friends there.

Rhyl Journal: Linzi Hughes in April 2022Linzi Hughes in April 2022 (Image: Linzi Hughes)

“I found it quite self-conscious for the first week, but I was fine after that. It’s wonderful. I’ve got a couple of stone to go, but I’ll be at my goal then.

“I had an appointment with my diabetic nurse, who said I’m back in the normal range with my diabetes again.

“I’ve got to take tablets for another couple of years yet, just to make sure it stays there, but it was absolutely brilliant; it made me feel wonderful.”

It is the second such feat for Linzi, who has been attending Slimming World classes intermittently for the last 10 years.

In 2018, she said, she also lost six stone, and Pauline added her pride in the achievements she has made in the last 12 months.

Pauline said: “Linzi has been on her weight loss journey for quite some time, but in the last 12 months, she has really focused on the Slimming World programme.

“More importantly, she comes to image therapy every week where, not only is she an inspiration to other members, but she also gets inspired by others.

“Linzi is getting closer to becoming a ‘target member’ every week, and is keen to share her story to encourage other people with diabetes to consider losing weight so that they, too, can reverse their Type 2 diagnoses.”