Sept/Oct Runner Up: Sarah C Lost 9st 5lbs* & Won £1000!

After years of pain, limited mobility and yo-yo dieting, Sarah C made a decision that changed everything. In just over a year, she’s lost an incredible 9st 5lbs*, ditched her walking stick, had life-changing hip surgery and rediscovered her confidence. Her powerful story of health, mobility and mindset has earned her the title of BEST HEALTH & MOBILITY TRANSFORMATION in our Sept/Oct Transformation Challenge and a £1000 cash prize.

In this inspiring interview, our Community Manager (and last year’s £10K Grand Finale winner) Rachael sits down with Sarah to talk about doctors, diagnosis, determination, and what’s really possible when you commit to the plan.

Here is her story…

The Winning Getting Started: Discovering New You

Rachael: Congratulations on your runner-up win! How do you feel?

Sarah: I’m amazed, really. You make a decision to enter these things and you think, will people even be interested in my story? But I wanted to show the health benefits side of my journey. New You has really changed things for me.

Rachael: What led you to The New You Plan?

Sarah: My husband and I have tried every plan under the sun. I’m a yo-yo dieter! I could lose weight but never keep it off. We were actually trying another company at the time, but it went under. On the Facebook pages, people were saying they were moving to either Shake That Weight or New You.

My husband ordered from the other one, and I ordered from New You and we both preferred New You immediately.

Over the years we’d tried LighterLife, Herbalife, Slimming World, Weight Watchers… everything. But maintenance was always the problem. That’s another reason I chose New You – there’s a proper maintenance programme to follow the weight loss.

Starting Point: Pain, Mobility Issues & A Difficult Doctor’s Appointment

Rachel: For those reading this, what made you decide to start losing weight?

Sarah: I had an awful experience with a doctor last September. I don’t like the term “fat-shaming”, but that’s exactly what it was. He had no bedside manner and made some very personal comments.

It could have sent me either way. I could give up, or change. Thankfully, I chose change.

I was born with hip dysplasia, so my hip joints never formed correctly. It wasn’t picked up at birth, so I’ve lived my whole life never understanding the phrase “let’s go for a nice walk”. Walking was always painful for me.

Later in life the pain increased dramatically. I also have lipoedema, meaning my legs are much larger than my top half. A double whammy: malformed hip sockets and heavy legs causing constant pain. I’d been told for years to “lose weight” even when the X-rays clearly showed physical problems.

Eventually the pain got so bad that I needed a walking stick just to get around.

The Turning Point

I went to see a surgeon last year who was incredibly unkind. That appointment was my breaking point. I decided I had to do something and that’s when I committed to New You fully. I started on 1st October 2024.

By the time of my hip replacement surgery in August, most of the weight was already gone. I only had the final 6lbs to shift after that and funnily enough, that last bit was the hardest!

Life After A Hip Replacement

Rachel: So you had the first hip done?

Sarah: Yes, and I was able to get my BMI down to the level required for surgery. It’s been life-changing. I’m now on the waiting list for my second hip. I’ve gone from struggling to walk 1,000 steps a day… to doing a lot of steps and walking stick-free.

I used to avoid stairs entirely! I’d bring everything downstairs each morning because I couldn’t cope with climbing. At 54 years old I was moving worse than my mother-in-law. Now? Completely different life.

Why New You Worked Where Other Plans Didn’t

Rachel: What do you specifically like about New You?

Sarah: Two things:

1. The Products Are So Much Better

Compared to other brands, the New You products taste better, have more variety, and aren’t all 200 calories, which I love. I could choose lower-calorie options when I wanted to.

I also tried to move away from constant snacking and focus on using the packs well throughout the day. The flexibility with different calorie options really helped with that.

2. The Facebook Community

The support is incredible. I was part of other communities before, but nothing compares.

I don’t post constantly, but I love offering advice in the comments, especially to people with similar conditions like hip dysplasia or lipoedema. I’ve proven you can lose weight with these conditions.

Yes, my legs are still bigger (that’s part of the condition), but they have reduced and I’ve been measuring them. There is “normal fat” over the top of the lipoedema fat, and losing that has made a huge difference to my health and mobility.

Favourites, Water Intake & Daily Routine

Rachel: Do you have favourite products?

Sarah: The bars! Me and my husband are brass musicians and travel a lot for competitions, so bars are perfect. In particular, I love the new protein bars too. When I was recovering from surgery and needed higher protein, they came out at the perfect time.

And I adore the Pineapple Boost hot! I have one every lunchtime. It sees me through the afternoon slump.

Rachel: And water intake?

Sarah: Absolutely key. I drink two large bottles a day plus black coffee and boosts. If I don’t drink enough, I feel it immediately – my skin gets dry, my eczema flares and I just feel “off”.

Because I work from home as an academic researcher, I keep a big bottle on my desk and aim for one in the morning, one in the afternoon, plus hot drinks and boosts. People worry about water, but with bouillon, water flavourings and boosts, it’s easier than you think.

Advice for Anyone Thinking of Starting

Rachel: What would be your advice to someone starting New You?

Sarah:

• Week 1 is hard – accept it. Anything worth doing is hard at first. You may get headaches or feel rough. Don’t sugar-coat it, just get through it.
• Don’t make excuses. It’s so easy to find reasons to stop – events, stress, social pressure. You’ve got to get real with yourself.
• Expect mixed reactions. Some people won’t understand what you’re doing or agree with total meal replacements. Be strong and stay focused.
• Hold yourself accountable. No one can do it for you. You are responsible for your choices.
• Use visual reminders. I stuck my worst photos on the fridge and cupboards, and kept an old “goal outfit” visible to remind me what I was working towards.
• Try lots of products. Don’t write the plan off because you don’t like one porridge or one soup. My family and I all like totally different things. There’s something for everyone.
• Trust the plan. People like me and you (Rachael) are living proof it works if you stick with it.

Your New You Starts Now

Rachel: If you had to sum up your journey in a few words?

Sarah: It’s hard not to sound cliché, but it’s been genuinely life-changing.

Christmas, Confidence & a Whole New Life

Rachel: Do you think Christmas will be different this year?

Sarah: Completely different. I can walk the dog, see people, and actually enjoy going out instead of hiding away.

Last year, I was buying oversized clothes I didn’t even want to be seen in. This year, I’ve bought a size 10 Christmas dress from Tesco. I’m an 8 on top and 12 on the bottom, down from a 22/24.

I even recently bought a suit for an interview. I took four sizes into the changing room because I had no idea what would fit. In the past, I’d just order clothes online and send them back, anything to avoid the changing room. Now I’m actually going into shops and fitting into things. It’s surreal and wonderful.

Final Thoughts

Rachel: It sounds like your life has completely turned around.

Sarah: It really has. I’m trying to support friends on different plans too because I’m an example of what’s possible. People ask, “What are you doing? I want some of that!”

My life, health and confidence have changed beyond recognition. And if I can do it, after years of pain and yo-yo dieting, anyone can.

Rachel: Thank you so much, Sarah! Your story is incredible. Congratulations again.

Sarah’s story started with one decision. Yours can too.

• Simple 4 packs a day system
• Fast, structured results
• Supportive community to cheer you on

Ready to Be Our Next Transformation Winner? Enter Before 31st December

Feeling inspired by Sarah’s incredible health and mobility transformation?

This is your moment to step forward.

Our final Transformation Challenge deadline of the year is now open and there’s a massive £7,000 in cash prizes waiting to be won:

• £3000 for the Overall Winner
• 4 x £1000 cash prizes for our Runners Up

If you’ve already started your New You journey – or you’re ready to begin now – your story could be the next one we celebrate.

Imagine ending this year knowing you’ve taken control of your health and stepping into 2026 as your own version of a “New You”, with the confidence to match your results.

👉 Start (or restart) your plan today, commit to the process like Sarah did, and enter our final Transformation Challenge of the year before 31st December. Your story could be the one changing lives next.