Determination Pays Off: How Julie Lost 4st* & Won £1000 with The New You Plan

In this inspiring interview, we sit down with Julie, one of our Nov/Dec Transformation Challenge runners-up who won an incredible £1000 cash prize. Starting at nearly 18st, Julie’s determination and commitment to The New You Plan helped her lost over 4st so far, transforming not just her body but her entire approach to life. Her story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to make a change and that with the right mindset and support, remarkable transformations are possible. Julie’s journey showcases how the correct plan, combined with determination, can lead to life-changing results that go far beyond just weight loss.

The Beginning of Change…

Nicola: Julie, tell us – how much weight have you lost so far?

Julie: I started at 17st 13lbs, so 18st roughly, and I’m now 13st 10lbs. So that’s just over 4st lost so far. My goal weight was to get to 14st, but I’ve got the bug now. I’m thinking of aiming for another 2st, depending on what I look like when I get there. I just want to be able to fit into normal clothes and feel better. The further down I go, the more I think, I could do another one. I’m not a fanatic though – I don’t want to be 8st or anything. I couldn’t be. I’m too well made for that. I think about 12st would be really good, so another couple of stone.

Nicola: What was it that made you start the plan?

Julie: Well, my son is diabetic, and about 8 years ago, we went to Slimming World, or “the cult” as my daughter calls it – she said you all meet like a covenant! We went and lost 6st in 6 months. We did it together as more of a project – we researched dishes, I cooked, he bought food. We lost a lot of weight but obviously went up and down, as life takes you. He’d put weight back on and became diabetic. When he was told by the doctor to go on an NHS diet to reduce his sugar, he was dreading it because we’re all foodies. I said I’d do it with him for support. He gets his free NHS diet, but he waited so long that I found New You online. I said, “Look, I’ll go on this New You one first, and if it works, then you can go on the other one.” When he saw me losing weight, he went on New You as well and lost 3st in 6 weeks.

Transforming Habits and Lifestyle

Nicola: How did you find the first week on plan?

Julie: The first 2 or 3 days, I was hungry and had a bit of a headache from detoxing. I don’t really get headaches, so it was noticeable, but by day 3, I was in the routine. Once you get into that routine, it’s so easy because you know you’ve got your meals scheduled. I always had a shake before I go to bed because if I lie in bed hungry, I just get up and eat. It was at a bit of a loss when I had to move down to 4 meals a day (when I got to under 17st) because I missed my last shake. I think it wasn’t that bad for me because I’m particularly lazy when it comes to cooking and shopping. When you’re just on your own, you can’t be bothered. It’s a sort of pastime more than a necessity, and I haven’t got time for that. The plan made everything so much simpler.

Nicola: How would you say your life has changed so far?

Julie: I lost my mother in November 2023, who I looked after for 5 years. For the last 2 years, she lived near us, so I was there every day. When you’re caring for somebody – she was 94 when she died – you don’t really have time for yourself. It wasn’t until the following May that I started New You. The plan actually helped me a lot through difficult times, especially when my ex-husband passed away in Thailand in July. He was on holiday, and my daughters had to go out there to have him cremated and do all the legal stuff. The grandchildren were with me for 10 days while they were in Thailand. Life was really busy, but it was quite nice to have the New You products where I could just rely on that rather than have to go out shopping and think about what I was going to eat.

Celebrating Success and Looking Forward

Nicola: Have you received any compliments that have meant a lot to you?

Julie: Oh yes, we’ve got quite a good community here in Darlington, and that could be because my son’s gay, so we’ve got quite a big LGBT community. When you go out, they notice and say “Oh my god, you look amazing!” I’ve lost even more weight than I did last time, so they can’t believe it because they only see me now and again. Each time I go out, which we don’t do very often, they’re amazed by the change. I’m buying clothes from Vinted now because there’s no way I’m paying loads of money for stuff I won’t wear if I lose more weight. I’ve got some lovely dresses, and people are always saying how amazing I look. It’s become a bit of a competition with me and my son now, although I know he’ll just drop it straight away!

Nicola: What non-scale victories have you achieved so far?

Julie: I’ve got goal pieces that I get in the next size down each time. I put them in the wardrobe, and sometimes at night when I go to bed, I’ll think, “Oh, I’ll just try that on and see if it fits.” I’m prancing around in my underwear in the bedroom, getting this stuff out of the wardrobe. When it fits, I’m like, “Yes!” Then I start to buy another goal piece. I’m a shopper – you’ve got no idea! I’ve got three double wardrobes full of clothes, and then there’s coats besides that. I never wore dresses before – it was always just trousers and a sweatshirt. Now I wear dresses, jeans, and even tights, which I haven’t worn for years. It’s opened up a whole new world of fashion for me.

Nicola: If you could go back to when you first started the plan, do you have any advice that you would give yourself?

Julie: Not really because I’m quite a determined person. If I say I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna do it. Thanks to my mother – she was very strong and independent and gave that to all of us. She was quite determined, and my kids are the same, very determined. When I commit to something, I see it through. That determination has been key to my success on this journey.

Ready to Transform Your Life Like Julie? Join Our 2025 £52K Cash Transformation Story Challenge!

Inspired by Julie’s incredible journey? It’s time to write your own success story! The New You Plan is thrilled to announce our 2025 Transformation Story Challenge, 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:

• Jan & Feb: New Year, New You (submit by Friday 28th Feb)
• Mar & Apr: Ready for Spring (submit by Wednesday 30th April)
• May & June: Summer is Coming (submit by Monday 30th June)
• July & Aug: Summer Slim Down (submit by Sunday 31st Aug)
• 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 winners announced 6 times a year and 5 prizes each time, that means you have 30 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.