How Jennifer Made a Life-Changing Decision with 1 Powerful Breakthrough

Jennifer is one of our New You Total Transformation Challenge runners-up, and her story is one so many people will relate to.

After years of trying different diets, Jennifer reached a point where her health gave her the wake-up call she needed. Diagnosed with sleep apnoea and type 2 diabetes at just 36, she knew something had to change.

Since starting The New You Plan, Jennifer has lost 5.5 stone, improved her health markers, reduced her blood sugar levels out of the prediabetic range, and most importantly, she is no longer watching life from the sidelines.

Now she is joining in, running with her boys, going on rides, feeling proud of herself, and choosing her own health and future.

This is Jennifer’s Story…

Getting Started

Rachael: Hi, Jen. How are you today?

Jennifer: I’m not too bad, thanks, Rachael. You?

Rachael: Good, very good, thank you. Well, big congratulations. We’ve chosen you as one of our New You Total Transformation Challenge runners-up, so congratulations on that.

Jennifer: Thank you.

Rachael: How did you feel when I gave you the call?

Jennifer: Surprised, to be honest. At first it was shock, and then I was just really proud of myself.

Rachael: Absolutely. You’ve done amazing.

Jennifer: Thank you.

5.5 Stone Down So Far

Rachael: I’ve loved following your journey because I’ve seen you from the beginning in our groups.

Jennifer: I try to update every now and then.

Rachael: You do wonderfully. For those who aren’t in the groups and don’t see your regular updates, how much have you lost so far?

Jennifer: I did my weigh-in this morning, and I got to 5.5 stone.

Rachael: Wow. That’s fantastic.

Jennifer: It’s more than I’ve lost any other time, so I can’t complain.

Rachael: And how long have you been following The New You Plan?

Jennifer: Since the end of July, so nearly eight months.

The Wake-Up Call

Rachael: Give us a little bit of background. What drove you to decide you needed to do something?

Jennifer: Like most people, I’ve been on and off every type of diet going for probably 20 years, since I left school.

I lost quite a bit before I had my children, who are seven and eight, and then COVID happened. Like a lot of people, I put it on, and then some more, and got to my biggest.

I think sometimes you just forget and carry on, and it gradually goes up.

Then just before Christmas 2024, I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea, and the following month with type 2 diabetes.

I was only 36, and it was a massive shock.

I’d never had any indicators with my blood sugars before. It was just a one-off that found it.

At the back of your mind, especially when you’re a bigger person, you know that’s a risk. But I thought that was way, way, way in the future. I thought I had plenty of time to do something.

Finding The New You Plan

Jennifer: When I looked into it, I saw that very low-calorie diets were recommended at the moment.

I spoke to my doctor, and they were happy with it, but they didn’t help me.

So I had a little look into it, and for a couple of months, I put it off, as I’m sure most people do.

You think, “Will I like it? Will I manage it?” Even that first order feels like a lot of money if you can’t tolerate it.

Then I thought, “No. I’m going to do it.”

I set myself a start date and knew that on that day, I was going to start.

Day One

Jennifer: I remember on my first day, I was very excited. I got everything organised.

The first product I had was the latte shake. I’ll be honest — not my favourite!

I love coffee, so I was really excited, and then I was a bit like, “Oh no, am I going to manage?”

But the rest of the day, I was so happy because pretty much everything else I tried after that, I enjoyed.

There are only the odd couple that don’t suit me, but we’re all going to have ones that don’t suit us, and that’s fine.

Even just doing day one, it was like, “I’ve done this. I can do this.”

The First Week

Rachael: How did you find that first week on plan?

Jennifer: It was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be.

I thought that first week was going to be really hard. It was also the week I started working from home, so I was right next to my kitchen.

In the past, when I’d worked from home, I’d easily go and snack on things. I thought the two things together might be difficult.

But I got myself into a routine very quickly, and that helped me.

The Power Of Routine

Jennifer: Routine is my biggest help point.

Unless I’ve got something on, I mostly have my packs at around the same times each day, so I know what’s coming. I know I’m not going to be hungry because I’ve got myself into that routine.

When I started, I didn’t tend to have something in the morning because I was hungrier in the evening.

Now my first pack is a bit earlier because otherwise I find I’m not hungry and struggle to fit the last one in.

It’s about getting into a routine, but also adapting it.

Your body changes. Every month or so, it might shift a little bit. I’ll go through phases of loving certain things, then the next month going back to something else.

It’s being open to that and knowing what works for you.

Structure Without Feeling Restricted

Rachael: And knowing those little adjustments aren’t going to derail you.

Jennifer: Definitely.

Because there is so much choice, even though it’s strict in the sense that I have my four packs, there is still plenty of choice, so I don’t feel restricted.

That was one thing I worried about, especially going out.

But I have a little lunchbox that’s constantly got two bars, a packet of crisps and a shake packet in it.

So if we go out unexpectedly, I can grab that, grab a shaker, and I’m ready to go.

I think it’s only been about twice that we’ve been out and I’ve said, “I’m not prepared.”

That lunchbox is always there in my kitchen ready.

Staying Included With Her Children

Jennifer: When we go out, the kids tend to have their little lunchboxes too.

So even though they realise I eat differently, I’m still included.

My kids don’t like milkshakes, so they don’t try my shakes. But my son did want some chocolate brownie, and I was like, “No!”

He said, “Why do you have cake? I thought you were on a diet.”

They don’t quite understand the concept of diet cake!

Watching From The Sidelines

Rachael: In your story, you mentioned taking your children to theme parks and not being able to join in with them. How did that make you feel?

Jennifer: My children are only seven and eight now, so they were younger before.

They are both autistic as well, so sometimes they don’t understand in the same way.

They would go on everything with their dad. If they weren’t tall enough to go on by themselves, it would be, “Daddy will go on with you, and I’ll look after the bags.”

To them, that was just the way it was.

Then when I went on one of the bigger rides around October time, they were both saying, “Face your fear! Don’t be a scaredy cat!”

I thought, “Maybe they have realised more than I thought,” except they thought it was because I was scared.

The Ride That Stayed In Her Mind

Jennifer: I had been on that same ride about six months before, and I was really scared because I was sitting there thinking, “Am I going to fit?”

I’d been through it before.

I got on, and everyone was saying, “You’ll be fine, you’ll be fine,” like friends and family do when they’re trying to make you feel better.

I sat on, and just as they were about to start the ride, the man came back out.

He didn’t throw me off, but he pushed the bar down quite a lot, and it was very obvious. Everyone could see.

I was mortified.

Even though I knew I’d lost a considerable amount of weight and would more than likely be fine, when I went on it again a few months ago, I still had that in the back of my mind.

The whole queue, that was all I was thinking.

But there was no problem at all.

Halfway through the ride, I thought, “Oh, this has actually changed. I can actually do this.”

Finally Joining In

Jennifer: We went away for Mother’s Day last week, and I think there was only one ride I didn’t go on with them.

I felt sick because I’d forgotten everything! But it was so nice that I was able to do it as well.

And my other half was stood there with the bags.

Rachael: It’s your turn now!

Jennifer: Exactly.

The boys were fighting over who got to sit with me, and it was just a really nice feeling.

Before, I think they knew I was there, but they also knew I didn’t do that.

Now I’m part of it.

“I Was On The Outside Looking In”

Rachael: How does that make you feel now?

Jennifer: It just makes me so happy.

I started because of my health. That was the push I needed.

But realistically, long term, it was for my kids. So I can not only see them grow up, but actually enjoy them growing up — not just watch them.

Until I wrote that, I didn’t realise that’s how I felt.

I felt like I was on the outside looking in.

In everything we did, it was, “I’ll do this with Daddy,” or, “Mummy will sit on the bench.”

As much as I was always there, and I know the kids love me and I’ll always be Mummy, it’s different now.

I’m part of it rather than just watching them enjoy it.

I felt like an outsider in my own family.

Running With Her Boys

Jennifer: Last week, we went out and the boys took their scooters.

There’s a little walking track near us that I didn’t even know was there, and we’ve lived here ten years.

We spent nearly two hours walking.

The boys decided they wanted a race, so I ran. I mean, I ran for ten seconds — it wasn’t much!

But we came home, and all the boys could talk about was the fact that all of us ran and Daddy didn’t. He only walked.

I just thought, “Wow. This is a change from this time last year, when it would have been Mummy did one lap and then sat down.”

They’re still going on about it now.

Seeing The Difference Herself

Rachael: You posted photos from the park, didn’t you?

Jennifer: Yes.

I was just going for a walk and had made no effort with how I looked. I thought, “Fine, take a picture.”

Then I looked at them, and it was the first time I looked at a picture of myself and didn’t think I looked enormous.

It’s finally starting to register in my own head.

People can tell you that you’ve done well, especially friends and family, but in your head it feels like they’re telling you because they have to.

But when I realised it myself, it was different.

I could see it and feel it.

Clothes And Confidence

Rachael: Are you noticing it in your clothes?

Jennifer: A lot of my clothes just fit me better.

I don’t want to buy loads of new clothes because I’m still planning to lose more.

I’ve bought the odd few bits, like leggings that are multi-size, and if my T-shirts are a bit big for now, that’s fine.

Hopefully in two or three months, I’ll be where I want to be or very close.

We go on holiday in August, so I’ll do a big shop before that.

I’ve also done little rewards when I’ve reached mini targets. I said I was going to treat myself to a spa day when my BMI went under 30, which was a few weeks ago.

I haven’t booked it yet, but it’s on my to-do list.

Breaking The Food Reward Cycle

Rachael: That’s such an important point — rewarding yourself in ways that aren’t food.

Jennifer: That’s what I’m trying to do.

I can’t reward myself with food at the moment, and it’s something I want to get out of.

I’m trying to get out of it with the kids as well because they’ll still say, “I’ve been good. Can I have…?”

I’ve had little things like the spa day, or a new dress, or leggings.

As a family, we’ve discussed reducing unhealthy food.

As far as the kids are concerned, we’re doing it as the four of us.

They’re not following the plan, but we’re looking at healthier eating as a family.

I don’t talk about my size because I don’t want them to have size-related problems.

But I can say, “Look at the things I’ve been able to do with you because I’ve got healthier.”

I don’t say, “I’m losing weight.” I say, “I eat different food to get healthier.”

Health Results

Rachael: Have you been back and had your bloods retested?

Jennifer: Yes. I had my bloods retested around Christmas, just short of a year after I was diagnosed.

My blood sugars are now well under the prediabetic range. They’re not even prediabetic anymore.

I spoke to my sister, who is a runner and very fit, and mine were lower than her recent results.

My cholesterol wasn’t crazily high, but that had massively come down as well.

When I updated my weight with the doctor, he put it into the system, paused, and then said, “Oh wow. That is a lot.”

I could tell he was looking at the screen thinking, “Is that right?”

More Than Weight Loss

Jennifer: You can say all you want about actual weight and clothes fitting, but sometimes looking at those health numbers shows it’s not just how you look that’s changing.

It’s your health that has massively improved.

When you get those milestone moments, whether it’s weight, measurements or health, it helps.

I have an app with a graph, and when I zoom out and see the last six months going down, down, down, I think, “Oh my goodness. I actually have done really well.”

Some weeks I lost 0.3lbs, and I still thought, “A loss is a loss.”

But when you look at it over a month, two months, six months, it’s all going in the right direction.

Handling Blips Differently

Rachael: You mentioned in your story how you deal with little blips along the journey.

Jennifer: Definitely.

In the past, if I had a bad day, or even one bad meal, it could become one day, then one week.

Suddenly, one thing has ruined the whole diet.

Now I look at it and think, “Okay. I enjoyed that. It was worth it. It was for a special occasion.”

That week, I might not lose weight, but I carry on the rest of the day and the rest of the week.

I don’t let it fall into, “I’ve had a bad day, so it may as well be a bad week.”

The guilt has gone down.

Before, the guilt would make me spiral into a bad week.

Now, if it’s planned, I know what’s coming. I can choose a better option if I can, or I can accept it might not have a good outcome on the scales and carry on.

I don’t let the guilt ruin the rest of the week, the month or the whole plan.

Thinking About The Future

Rachael: You mentioned possibly wanting more children. Has this journey helped you towards that?

Jennifer: I really hope so.

Before, that was another reason I wanted to lose weight because I knew it wasn’t going to happen at the weight I was at. I’d been told that by the doctor.

Now we’re in a position where if it happens, it happens.

We spoke about whether we wanted to look at it now, and I chose to say no because I’d rather carry on and lose more weight.

It wouldn’t be safe to carry on with lower calories and be pregnant, and I don’t want to jeopardise that.

At the moment, my health is more important.

When I get to a safer weight, or a weight I’m happier with, it’s something we can revisit.

The Community Support

Rachael: A lot of your journey has been shared in our community. Have you found that helpful?

Jennifer: I have, especially when I first started.

When I started, I was working from home, so I wasn’t seeing people at work to talk to.

At first, I didn’t tell many people because I find people try to talk you out of it or say, “I couldn’t do that,” or, “Why don’t you just have this?”

I wanted to establish myself first, get to a place I was happy, then say, “Actually, this is how I’ve done it.”

The community was really helpful.

Even just posting weekly updates and having people say, “Well done,” was lovely.

If I had a question, I could go on there and someone would probably answer within five minutes.

Even if they didn’t have the answer, they would post something helpful or supportive.

Support Without Judgement

Jennifer: There was a point where I wasn’t posting much because of time, but I still knew the community was there.

Now I try to update once a week if I can, and I’m always having a little look to see what’s going on and if there’s anyone I can support.

It is daunting when you first start, and support from people you don’t even know is incredible.

If someone posts that they’ve had a blip, no one judges because we’ve all done it.

People just say, “Carry on tomorrow.”

They understand the bad days, but they also celebrate the good days.

Looking Ahead

Rachael: What do you think the future holds now?

Jennifer: I’m hoping that at some point in the summer, I’ll get to my target, or close to it.

I think I have about another two stone to lose, then I’ll see how I feel and how I look.

Then we can discuss the baby thing.

But then it will be about maintaining, which is more daunting than losing the weight.

Believing It Can Last

Jennifer: I know people who have lost a significant amount of weight, then stopped whatever they were doing and put it back on.

But this feels different.

It’s the first time in my life I’ve thought, not only can I do it, but I can do it long term.

Every other diet, I thought I could lose a couple of stone.

I never actually thought I could get to a weight I wanted to be.

Seeing people in the groups who are maintaining helps.

They’re honest too. They might say they’ve put a bit back on and need to lose it again, but that’s human.

That’s what the group is there for — support.

The Best Decision For Me

Rachael: If you could describe your journey in one sentence, what would it be?

Jennifer: I think it’s the best decision I’ve ever made for me.

Not for somebody else — for me.

Rachael: That is so important. That’s why our saying this year is the year you choose you.

Jennifer: Exactly. This year, I thought, “I’ve got to do something for me.”

Especially as a mum, we never do enough for ourselves.

Obviously, it’s still about them, and they’re a massive reason, but I’m doing it for me.

Final Thoughts

Rachael: I can’t wait to celebrate with you when you get to your ultimate goal.

Jennifer: I’m determined it will be the summer.

I did say my goal was to wear a bikini on holiday in August, but I don’t know! Even if I was stick thin, I don’t know if I’d have the nerve to do it, but we’ll see.

Rachael: We’ll love seeing your holiday pictures because we’ll see you loving life.

Jennifer: Exactly.

Rachael: I’ve loved talking to you and learning more about your journey. You’re going to be such an encouragement to so many people, especially mums of young children.

You’re proof that you can still do things with your kids and be successful on this journey.

Jennifer: If I can do it, anybody can.

Ready To Start Your Own Transformation?

Jennifer’s story is proof that choosing yourself can change everything.

From health scares and feeling like she was watching life from the sidelines, to losing 5.5 stone, improving her health, and finally joining in with her children again — this is what becoming your New You is all about.

Simple system. Four packs a day. Real results.