Alison Harkness, 59, is now enjoying walks with her dogs and playing with her grandchildren after dropping four dress sizes and no longer needing walking aids.
The retired nurse was diagnosed with fibromyalgia seven years ago and eventually became so affected by chronic pain, fatigue and limited mobility that she had to give up work.
At the start of this year she weighed 16-and-a-half stone and joined Slimming World in a bid to improve her health and mobility.
Super slimmer Alison (Image: Contributed)
She said: “I joined due to a mixture of my health and struggling with my mobility.
“I have fibromyalgia which causes pain all over.
“I take four painkillers a day and a couple of paracetamol.
“You struggle to walk or exercise. It’s like a bone pain that is there all the time.
“I had to use two walking sticks to get around.”
Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition which causes widespread pain and can also lead to stiffness, severe tiredness and mental health challenges.
Alison (Image: Contributed)
Alison added: “Some days I didn’t go out because I was too tired or in too much pain.”
She said her weight steadily increased due to a combination of medication that caused weight gain, a sweet tooth and being unable to exercise.
Now weighing 12st 12lb, Alison says the change has transformed her day-to-day life.
She said: “It’s been life-changing.
“It’s been a big confidence boost as I can buy a lot of nice clothes, but more importantly, I don’t need the walking sticks.
“I can walk upstairs and not be out of breath.”
Alison (Image: Contributed)
Although she still takes painkillers, Alison is trying to reduce the amount she relies on them.
She said: “There’s not so much pressure on my joints.
“You also get brain fog, so I am still trying to deal with that.
“It affects your hands, feet and legs.
“The pain will never go away.”
Before losing weight, Alison said she could barely walk beyond her front door.
Now she enjoys daily walks and believes the change has benefited both her physical and mental health.
She said: “I couldn’t go out for a walk before.
“Now I can walk round Parklea. I would say that is my limit.
“It has helped my mental health as well.
“I am trying to make sure that fibromyalgia doesn’t rule me.”
Alison also hopes sharing her story will raise awareness of fibromyalgia, a condition whose symptoms are not always visible despite the significant impact they can have on everyday life.
She said: “You can’t see it, but the pain is there.”
She lives with her husband William, 62, and has two daughters, Elle, 34, and Vicky, 32, as well as three grandchildren.
One of the biggest differences, she says, is being able to spend more quality time with them.
She said: “Before, I struggled to get up out of the chair and they would help me.
“Now I can join in and play with them.
“I can enjoy my life more.”
Alison credits much of her success to Slimming World consultant Emma Taylor.
Alison with Emma (Image: Contributed)
She said: “She has been very supportive and sends you messages.
“It was quite scary walking in for the first time to the class, but you were made very welcome.
“It was like walking in and getting a family hug.”
Alison was recently named Slimming World Champion Kilmacolm Woman of the Year and believes the group’s food optimising plan has been key to her success.
She said: “Food Optimising is fab as I can enjoy all the foods I love without the guilt.
“There’s no calorie counting and minimal weighing.
“Once I joined, I just stuck to the plan.”
Alison is now aiming to lose another 12lb to reach her target weight and attends the Slimming World class in Kilmacolm every Friday at 9.30am.