From 25 Stone to Size 12: A Mother's Journey to Health and Happiness
Devinia Carby, a 46-year-old single mother from Brent, once tipped the scales at nearly 25 stone, feeling like "the biggest person in the room" and resigned to a future of poor health. However, a routine blood pressure check at her GP surgery served as a stark wake-up call, prompting her to take control and break a cycle of illness that had affected her family.
Reflecting on her mother's struggles with high blood pressure and diabetes, which led to her passing in 2022, Devinia realised she couldn't let her seven-year-old daughter, Nayla-Hope, face a similar caregiving burden. "I pictured my daughter caring for me the way I'd cared for my mum," she explained. "I couldn't let that be her future. It was time to take control."
A New Mindset and Community Support
In March 2024, Devinia, who works for the council, signed up for Slimming World. While she had tried the programme before, this time she approached it with a "clear purpose and completely different mindset." She emphasised the importance of weekly group meetings, stating, "Going to the group each week and hearing how encouraging others were was the motivation I needed."
Previously, juggling work and single parenthood meant preparing fresh meals seemed impossible, leading to takeaways four nights a week. Inspired by fellow Slimming World members, Devinia began batch cooking meals each Sunday with Nayla-Hope, freezing portions for the week ahead. She shared a practical tip: "Match my meals to the weather. On cold days, having a hot meal already planned stops me slipping off course." Family favourites now include Sunday roasts with chicken, Slimming World roast potatoes, and vegetables.
Emotional Milestones and Health Improvements
Devinia, who had struggled with her weight since having her three children—Micah, 25, Kyle, 22, and Nayla-Hope—noted significant changes. "After believing for so long that losing weight was impossible, I've proved to myself that it isn't," she said. Her blood pressure is now in the normal range, and she sleeps better.
Dropping from a size 28 to a size 12, she highlighted an emotional moment: "When Nayla-Hope wrapped her arms fully around me for the first time; hearing her say she could finally hug me properly brought me to tears." She added, "Losing 13 stone hasn't just changed my life—it's transformed my heart health and given me the chance to be the strong, healthy mum I once only dreamed of."
Expert Insights and Heart Health Strategies
Lisa Maskell, Devinia's Slimming World Consultant, praised her achievement: "Losing 13 stone is amazing, but seeing her blood pressure come down, her pain ease, and her confidence grow week by week means even more." Alexandra Clark, a Registered Nutritionist at Slimming World, noted that heart and circulatory diseases cause around a quarter of all UK deaths annually, underscoring the importance of stories like Devinia's.
Alexandra outlined five strategies to lower heart disease risk:
- Manage your weight: Losing just 5% of body weight can reduce heart disease risk.
- Limit salt intake: Adults should aim for no more than 6g of salt daily to avoid high blood pressure.
- Cut down on unhealthy fat: Reduce saturated fats from fatty meats and pastries, while increasing omega-3 fats from oily fish and nuts.
- Fill up on fibre: Foods like oats and beans help with weight management and cholesterol levels.
- Get active: Regular activity, including brisk walks and strength training, lowers risks of high cholesterol and diabetes.
Dr Pauline Swift, Chair of Blood Pressure UK, emphasised that simple lifestyle changes, such as reducing salt and increasing exercise, can significantly lower blood pressure, preventing strokes and heart disease.
Dietary Transformation and Lasting Impact
Devinia's diet has undergone a complete overhaul. Previously, she skipped breakfast, ate pasties and chips for lunch, and relied on takeaways like Chinese food for dinner, with snacks of doughnuts and crisps. Now, she enjoys fat-free yogurt with fruit for breakfast, homemade Scotch eggs for lunch, and meals like spaghetti bolognese or cauliflower mac n' cheese for dinner, with healthy snacks like boiled eggs.
Her journey serves as a powerful reminder of how community support and evidence-based guidance can lead to sustainable weight loss and improved health. With approximately 1.4 million heart attack survivors in the UK and over 170,000 annual deaths from heart diseases, Devinia's story highlights the critical role of proactive health management.
