July/Aug Transformation Challenge: Helen Lost 5st & Won £1,000 Cash

Meet Helen, one of our July/August Transformation Challenge winners. After a family history of heart disease and a wake-up call at the cardiology clinic, she made a bold decision: start fresh in January, keep it simple, and give herself a real chance. In just months, she dropped 5 stone, reclaimed her energy, and is now the nanny who’s teaching her grandsons to ride their bikes, not sitting on the sidelines. Her confidence soared, her world opened up — and she also walked away with £1,000 cash.

This is Helen’s story of discovery — the year she found herself again. If you’re busy, overwhelmed, or worried it’s “too late,” let her journey show what’s possible with a simple system: four packs a day – plus community, routine, and belief. The recipe for a life changing transformation.

Getting Started: Health, Hope & a Big Decision

Julz: How did it feel to get the call to say that you were a Transformation Challenge winner?

Helen: When the phone rang and I heard the news, I was genuinely stunned. You enter competitions thinking nothing will ever come of it, and then suddenly you’re told you’ve won. It felt surreal. In truth, I already felt like a winner because I had lost five stone and changed my life, but receiving the £1,000 was the most wonderful bonus and a moment I will never forget.

Julz: What made it that made you start the plan?

Helen: My family history was the push I needed. Both my parents had heart issues, and I was already on blood pressure medication with cholesterol edging towards treatment. After an angiogram, I realised I had a choice to change direction. Around that time, The New You Plan kept appearing on Facebook, and it felt like a sign. In December I committed properly, ordered an 8-week bundle, and started on 3rd January, determined to give myself a real chance.

“Four Packs a Day? I’ll Never Survive!” (Spoiler: You Can)

Julz: When did it click that this would work for you?

Helen: By weeks three to four, it really clicked. At the start I assumed four packs a day could never satisfy me, but after the first couple of days the physical hunger faded. I experienced a bit of withdrawal – likely from carbohydrates – but I was prepared for that. What surprised me most was how quickly the emotional hunger eased; by about week six I felt calm around food and confident I could keep going.

Julz: How did you track progress without weighing often?

Helen: I know the scales can affect my mindset, so I limited weigh-ins to every couple of weeks or longer. Instead, I paid attention to my clothes, energy levels, and how I felt in myself. If I weighed too soon and didn’t see a big change, it could have derailed me. Protecting my headspace helped me stay consistent and positive.

Routine, Planning & a System That Makes It Simple For Transformation

Julz: What practical habits kept you on track?

Helen: Planning changed everything for me. I keep four large clear boxes upstairs – one each for Shakes, Soups, Evening Meals, and Crisps/Bars/Snacks. Once a week I do a quick stock check, rotate by date, and bring 28 packs downstairs for the week. That simple routine removes decision fatigue and stops me from “freewheeling.” I still keep flexibility; if I fancy noodles instead of pasta, I swap. It is structured, not rigid, which makes it sustainable.

Julz: What are your favourite products and how do you use them?

Helen: In the morning I love turning the Vanilla Shake into a warm vanilla latte by adding a little coffee and heating it gently; sometimes I choose the Egg Omelette for variety. For lunch I started with Asparagus Soup, and lately I’m enjoying the new Vegetable Soups and the new Chicken Soup because they feel heartier and keep me fuller, likely due to the extra protein and fibre. Dinner is often Sweet & Sour Noodles or Broccoli Pasta. On busy evenings, like my grandkids’ swim lessons, I take a Peanut Bar and a bag of Protein Crisps — I’m loving Chicken and Cheddar — so I can stay on plan without fuss.

Energy, Confidence & Getting Her Life Back

Julz: What’s changed most since you started?

Helen: The biggest change is my energy and my willingness to say yes. I used to get out of breath climbing the stairs and often opted out of family activities. Now I’m cycling with my grandsons, joining in spontaneously, and creating memories in the middle of the action. It feels like I have been handed my life back, and I am determined to make the most of it.

Julz: Did menopause and mood play a role in your journey?

Helen: Absolutely. Menopause, long COVID, and a general foggy headspace made everything feel heavier. I sorted my HRT and addressed a small gynae issue before I began, which helped clear the fog. From there I focused on one day at a time. The mountain looked huge in January, but small consistent steps made it not only possible, but surprisingly quick in hindsight.

Community That Lifts You Higher

Julz: How has Secret Slimmers helped?

Helen: Secret Slimmers has been invaluable. I have formed genuine friendships and felt consistently supported. I used to look up to others’ transformations for hope; now new starters tell me they look to my posts for inspiration. That circle of encouragement is powerful, and it keeps me accountable on the tougher days.

Refeeds, Mindset & Keeping It Real

Julz: How do you handle holidays and refeeds?

Helen: I plan for them and keep perspective. After a two-week refeed I don’t weigh immediately because water changes can be misleading. I go five days back on plan and then check. Recently it was just one pound of fat up, which was fine. The key is not to dramatise blips. A calm reset and a return to routine work far better than guilt.

Movement That Fits a Busy Life To Support Transformation

Julz: What does your exercise look like?

Helen: I joined the 7,500-step group, and I mix in whatever fits my day. I use an exercise bike at home and read my Kindle while I pedal for 30 minutes, which makes the time fly. I also do “exercise snacks” — a few squats or counter push-ups while my soup warms. It is simple, flexible, and it adds up quickly without taking over my schedule.

Word of the Year: Discovery

Julz: If you had one word for 2025 so far, what would it be?

Helen: Discovery. I have discovered me. I stepped back from a high-stress management role, slowed my pace, and started enjoying my life. I am happy to be in photos again, right in the centre with my grandchildren, making memories that will last.

Looking Ahead

Julz: What’s next for you?

Helen: I have about 13 pounds to reach my personal target. I have joined the October Challenge and I am aiming to be there, or very close, by my 55th birthday on 17th November. We have two holidays planned for 2026 — one quiet trip with my husband for our anniversary and a big family holiday with the grandchildren — and I fully intend to be in every photo, living it all.

Helen’s Advice to Anyone on the Sidelines

“Just do it — you’ve got nothing to lose except weight.”
Start now because the time will pass anyway. You do not need to wait for goal to feel good; energy and confidence return quickly. Keep the plan simple – four packs a day, water, and routine – and let the community support you. Plan your week, allow sensible flexibility, and if you wobble, just get back on it. Enjoy the journey while you’re on it.

Helen’s Simple System (Steal Her Moves)

• Weekly pack pull: Bring 28 products downstairs so your week is decision-free.
• Structured, not rigid: Plan your days and swap if you fancy something else.
• Weigh your way: If scales derail you, use clothes, energy, and mood.
• Exercise snacks: Small bursts – squats, counter push-ups, short cycles – add up fast.
• Lean on community: Secret Slimmers for accountability, tips, and genuine cheerleaders.

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.