Best Self Discovery Transformation: Ally Lost 4st 4lbs* & Won £1000 Cash In Our Transformation Challenge

Meet Ally, one of our July/August Transformation Challenge Winners.
In less than a year, Ally didn’t just change her weight — she changed her world. After years of putting everyone else first, battling burnout from a demanding career in education, and feeling stuck in a cycle of diets that never quite stuck, she drew a line in the sand: this year, I’m going to love myself a little more.

That promise turned into powerful action – a New You Sprint to simplify food, yoga to calm the mind and strengthen the body, daily habits that honoured her energy, and a kinder way of speaking to herself. The results are written all over her face and life: 4 stone 4 pounds lost, confidence gained, sleep restored, joy rekindled, and a well-earned £1,000 cash prize in our Transformation Challenge. She’s booking a yoga retreat in Sicily, running 5Ks, saying yes to crop tops and compliments, and — most importantly — maintaining the love she’s found for herself.

This is Ally’s story – raw, hopeful, and deeply relatable. Read on, and imagine how you could feel by Christmas if you started today.

Getting Started: Choosing Herself

Julie-Ann: Who was Ally before New You? What sparked the decision to change?

Ally: A year ago I felt utterly stuck. I’d left teaching feeling broken by a system that was breaking people, my mental health was in the bin, and I was uncomfortable in my body. My clothes didn’t fit, stairs felt like a workout, and I ended most days exhausted. Over Christmas I sat with a notebook and wrote down everything I didn’t like about my life. Then I circled what I could control. In January I began with self-care; in February I decided it was time to address my weight in a way that was simple and sustainable. That led me to The New You Plan.

Julie-Ann: Why did you choose The New You Plan?

Ally: I’d tried a similar approach in 2021 and lost around three stone. I felt amazing, and I wanted to go out and show off my weight loss, but because I had no plan for keeping the weight off, it crept back on. Friends told me New You had brilliant variety and a supportive community. Because I knew the structure would work for me again, I ordered a 4-Week Bundle to start, knowing that with PCOS weight loss can be tough, but also knowing this style of plan works for me. This time I was determined to build habits I could live with. I knew I had to focus on not just losing the weight, but how to keep it off. I didn’t want to repeat the same cycle.

Early Days: Simple System, Real Momentum

Julie-Ann: How did you set yourself up for that first week?

Ally: I prepared before I began. I increased my water, cut down on carbs and reduced caffeine so the transition would be kinder. I started during a quieter week so I could focus on getting into rhythm. Within a few days the hunger settled; by the end of that first stretch I felt in control.

Julie-Ann: What were your first results – and how did they feel?

Ally: In roughly ten days – including my pre-start water push – I was 11lbs down. That early win was a huge boost. Week two slowed, and week three was the wobble: just a pound off and a real mindset test. Instead of spiralling, I reminded myself that plateaus help your body reset to a new normal. By week four I felt back in my groove. That’s when I realised this wasn’t a quick burst; it was me changing how I live.

Julie-Ann: What did a typical day on plan look like for you?

Ally: I start late morning with a Shake. In the afternoon, I have a Bar – usually Mint Chocolate with a decaf coffee! Then a savoury Meal for dinner. I end the day with another Shake. I keep fluids high – lots of peppermint tea – and I love Pineapple Boosts hot on cold mornings. As the weather cooled, Tomato Soup became a cosy staple, and I’m really enjoying the new Limited Edition Spellbound Shakes. Simplicity and routine has really worked for me.

Mind & Body: Building Strength and Self-Respect

Julie-Ann: Did you add in any exercise?

Ally: About two or three weeks in I joined a yoga class. At first I felt like Bambi on ice, but it grounded me. Yoga calmed my mind, built strength, and I’m convinced it helped prevent sagging skin alongside all the water I was drinking. I’ve booked a five-day yoga retreat in Sicily for next April with a group of women. A year ago I wouldn’t even have looked at the brochure.

Julie-Ann: What other habits have you build in that have worked for you?

Ally: I stopped using food to punish or reward myself and built a self-care routine that made me feel good! My nails are super strong thanks to all the nutrients in the pack so I’ve started getting those done. I get my legs waxed regularly, because that makes me feel good. I prioritise spending time with people who lift me. I tracked sleep, steps and water on my watch, which kept me honest without obsessing over the scales. I set boundaries and started talking to myself like a friend. That shift – choosing respect for myself – made everything else easier.

Real Life: Refeeds, Holidays & Getting Back On Track

Julie-Ann: How did you handle refeeds and time away?

Ally: Refeeds taught me maintenance skills. I was nervous about my first one and ended up losing five pounds over two weeks. On holiday I kept to simple anchors – Greek yoghurt with chia and fruit at breakfast, fish and salad in the evening – and enjoyed treats without guilt. When I got home, a two-week “four shakes a day” reset helped me click back into routine. I’ve learned it isn’t about perfection; it’s about using the right tool for the week you’re in.

Julie-Ann: What did the Secret Slimmers community mean to you?

Ally: It’s the most positive, safe space online. As a newbie I lived for Transformation Tuesdays and Face-to-Face Fridays — proof that change is possible in real people, not just a marketing photo. On hard days I would scroll those posts to fill my motivation right back up. Now I’m sharing my photos so the next person can use mine to do the same.

The Win: A Phone Call that Changed the Week

Julie-Ann: Tell us about entering the Transformation Challenge – and winning £1,000.

Ally: I almost didn’t enter. Taking the “I Am In” photo felt brutal at the start, and I wasn’t sure I wanted anyone to see it. Then I thought: what have I really got to lose? When the call came on a Friday – I’d had a rough week. That moment flipped everything. I’m 4st 4lbs down, my face looks years younger, and the prize felt like a pat on the back for choosing myself and sticking with it.

Lessons & What’s Next

Q: What are your biggest takeaways for someone starting now?
Ally: Begin with your why and write it down. When week three hits and the numbers slow, you’ll need it. Accept that you can do hard things – because you can. Trust the process, measure more than your weight, and remember that plateaus are your body practising maintenance. Treat yourself with respect today, not “when you’ve earned it”. You’ll move faster from a place of care than from criticism.

Julie-Ann: What does the future look like now?

Ally: When I get to my goal, I’ll be focusing on maintenance – not only of my weight, but of the love I’ve found for myself this year. I’ll keep yoga three times a week, keep running 5Ks, and I’m entering a half marathon in May to stay motivated through winter. I’m booking experiences that excite me and staying close to this community. Happy people help people; that’s the version of me I’m keeping.

Ally’s advice for anyone thinking of starting the plan…

• Have a WHY. When it’s tough, lean on it.
• You can do hard things. Sprint weeks aren’t easy, but simple + consistent works.
• Plateaus are progress. Your body is resetting; future you will thank you.
• Be your own best friend. I talk to myself like someone I love.

Ready to Start Your Own New You?

Simple system. Four packs a day. Big results — fast.
Start today and imagine how good you’ll feel by Christmas 🎄 — lighter, stronger, more you.

👉 Shop the Plan & Begin Your Transformation
👉 Join Secret Slimmers for 24/7 Support
👉 Enter the Transformation Challenge — next winner could be you!

You’ve got this. I Can. I Will. Watch Me! 💛

Need a Little More Motivation? Join Our 2025 £52K Cash Transformation Story Challenge!

Inspired by Ally’s incredible journey? It’s time to write your own success story! Our 2025 Transformation Story Challenge continues, with an astounding £52,000 in cash prizes up for grabs!

Cash Prizes To Help Your Thrive – £52,000 Up for Grabs!

This year, we’re giving away 52K in cash. £7,000 cash will be won every 2 months for our absolute favourite glow-ups! One overall winner will WIN £3000 cash and 4 more customers will each WIN £1000. And the grand finale? An epic £10,000 cash prize for one overall winner!

Customers can enter any or ALL of the following challenges:

• Sept & Oct: Fall Focus (submit by Friday 31st Oct)
• The £10,000 Grand Finale (submit by Sunday 30th November)
• Nov & Dec: End 2025 strong (submit by Wednesday 31st Dec)

You don’t have to be at your goal to enter! Entering each time will keep you motivated and on track to achieving your goal. And, if you are already at your goal and maintaining your weight loss, you can enter too!

It’s free to enter, you can join at any time and you can submit every 2 months, if you wish. With 2 more submission dates this year, and 5 prizes each time, that means you have 10 chances to WIN a share of £52,000. And don’t forget about our £10,000 grand finale in November 2025, in which the overall winner of the year will walk away with £10k cash.