Inspirational mum sheds HALF her bodyweight
She has shed more than half of her bodyweight in four years but this inspirational Staffordshire mother has lost something entirely more significant during that time.
Wendi Dean, from Cannock, has battled bullying, depression and bereavement but still managed to shrink from 26st 5lb to 12st 5lb since 2013 with the help of a Slimming World group.
Tragically, her step-daughter Lucy lost her battle with leukaemia last year, aged just eight, and only two weeks ago her mother-in-law Linda, who was very supportive of her, died from pancreatic cancer aged 63.
But while that would have provided ample excuse for many to give in to the temptation of comfort foods, Wendi has actually used the adversity to spur herself on.
The 29-year-old from Harrison Road said: “This was the only thing I could control. I couldn’t control what was going on around me at the hospital.
“Slimming World was like my little bit of sanity every week. My madness free zone. Even with going through tough times, I knew I had to plough on and change my life.”
Wendi, a full-time mother to her two children Luke and Sophie, five and six, as well as step-children Izzy and Josh, 10 and 13, said she had always had weight issues.
“I was always one of the bigger ones in school,” she said. “I got bullied quite a lot.
“It was horrible. Having to have specially ordered clothes. I was lucky I had a good group of friends to support me, otherwise it would have been a different matter.”
Things got worse in her 20s as she suffered post-natal depression after the birth of her two children.
She said: “Me and my husband didn’t go out really. I just had a ‘can’t be bothered to do anything’ attitude.
“I didn’t cook a lot so I just got takeaways or whatever was the easiest option.”
Wendi finally decided to join Slimming World in January 2013. She said: “I had just had enough of not doing anything. I wanted to be healthier for my children and be able to be mobile to do stuff with them.”
In the first year she lost a staggering seven stone.
It was an even more remarkable feat given that the same year Lucy’s leukaemia had sadly relapsed after she had been in remission for three years.
Consequently trips to the hospital became all the more frequent up until last year when she died a week after the family were told she still had months left to live.
But in the face of all of that, Wendi carried on her weight-loss drive, crediting her husband Dean for his support.
She said: “Some days I would say ‘no, I’m giving up’ but he was the one who said ‘no you have come too far and done so well’.
“His family were also fantastic with their support and encouragement. We have just lost my mother-in-law. I reached my target weight on the day we were told there was nothing more they could do for her. We were all devastated but she was still upbeat and happy for me and said ‘well done’.”
Wendi now goes to Slimming World at St Mary’s Social Club and Thomas More at Hallcourt Crescent, Cannock.
The key to her success has been cooking healthier meals replacing sugars and additives with fresh and natural ingredients. She added: “I was able to stick with it because it worked.
“The foods were nice. I was enjoying cooking so much more. I told myself I couldn’t let what was happening with Lucy affect it. I had to keep it going. “I would say to other people struggling with their weight they can definitely do it, no matter what is thrown at them.
“Even if they slip up and fall off the horse then they can get back on and carry on.”
Anyone interested in joining a morning, afternoon or evening group at Cannock can call Gill Fletcher on 07958 000554.
