THE POWER OF two

When Gill and Elaine decided to lose weight, they didn’t have to do it alone

‘I was losing weight for myself, but wanted to make her proud too’

When Elaine Farrell, 63, needed to lose weight for her health, her daughter Suzie, 41, decided to get in on the action. 

Gasping in pain, all I’d done was walk upstairs. It was November 2018, and fibromyalgia, asthma, and COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Taking piles of pills daily, my weight only worsened my symptoms. I’d always been big, but at a size 28, I could barely pick up my grandchildren for a cuddle.

Prescribed steroids for my lung conditions, my weight climbed higher. explained to my doctor, frustrated. He decided to wean me off, but by December 2018 my health worsened. A combination of stopping the steroids and my size had made me ill, and all my limbs swelled.

‘Back to my old self’

Suzie, 41, says, ‘Watching my mum’s weight-loss journey was inspirational. If she could do it with all her health problems, why couldn’t I do the same? Going to Slimming World together meant we could encourage each other. Now, watching my mum play with my kids, I’ve never seen her so happy and healthy. My friends have noticed big changes in me too, saying I’m back to my old self, which feels amazing. I couldn’t be happier with what me and Mum have achieved together.’

‘I’m worried you’re going to die,’ my daughter Tracy, then 39, sobbed. I knew something had to change.