A HEREFORD woman has received a prestigious award for inspiring others to reach their dream weight and providing a special service.

Jo Diggle, who runs the Hereford City church Slimming World groups every Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, was awarded 'gold' status by the national slimming club. 

The accolade is given to Slimming World consultants who consistently have 100 or more members in their group over several months, and who provide such exceptional service that members keep coming back. 

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“I am delighted to have received the ‘gold’ award," said Mrs Diggle.

"I absolutely love my job - being in group with my members is a total joy. I’m passionate about helping people to transform their lives by losing weight and seeing them succeed is a real privilege and reward enough, but being given this recognition for the whole group really is the icing on the cake."

Mrs Diggle said she had never been concerned with her weight growing up, but once she had her children, her body never returned to pre-pregnancy weight, which affected her confidence. 

"I had lost weight with Slimming World previously but I never embraced it fully and definitely viewed it as a short-term diet rather than a lifestyle change and so the weight went back on," she said.

Hereford Times: Jo Diggle prior to losing her weightJo Diggle prior to losing her weight (Image: Jo Diggle)

"We ran a hotel as a family and so I was always around food. Welcome cakes on arrival, fried breakfasts, afternoon teas, delicious desserts, and I tucked in whenever there was spare time.

"I knew that I had to change my approach to food as it was always going to be there and readily available and I knew that attending a Slimming World group would give me that weekly support.

"In nine months, I lost four stone nine and a half pounds to reach my self-set target and I felt amazing. I enjoyed clothes shopping for the first time ever in my adult life, I had an abundance of energy, my children told me how proud they were of me and I knew that I needed to share this feeling with others.

"Running your own new business is a total whirlwind but I loved it and embraced the challenges because the pay offs were huge."