Jenni's journey: Brightons hairdresser's passion for helping others shed pounds earns her a major award
A slimming expert who normally uses her knowledge and experience to help others achieve weight loss success has stepped into the spotlight herself to win a community impact award.
Jenni Lapsley, from Brightons, helps people shed pounds in her role as a Slimming World consultant.
Jenni, who runs the Grangemouth Slimming World group at Sealock Centre and the Bo’ness group at the Chemical Workers Social Club, was presented with the
award at a prestigious celebration day at Slimming World’s Derbyshire Head Office.
Jenni has helped hundreds of members over the last few years to reach their target weights, a goal each member chooses for themselves. She is hugely proud of the difference she makes within her local community, and is delighted to be offering another group on Saturday mornings in Bo’ness now.
She said: “Attending this event is an achievement for everyone in the group – they’ve reached for the stars with their weight losses. Over the past year alone, our Grangemouth members shed an incredible total of 344 stone and drastically improved their health.”
Jenni also achieved Slimming World’s prestigious Gold Award in the Grangemouth group, which acknowledges her for running one of the best weight loss groups across the UK and Ireland.
Jenni said: “It was an absolute honour to be invited to the Slimming World Head Office for this celebration day. It was so special meeting other Consultants like me who are working across the UK and Ireland to support people to lose weight and improve their health.
"Hearing all of the amazing milestones we’d helped members to achieve was staggering and I felt so moved knowing my members and I are a part of it.”
Jenni lost three stone with Slimming World herself before becoming a self-employed consultant.
“When I joined Slimming World I had reached a point of desperation. I felt so unhappy, none of my clothes fit and I had lost all my confidence. I even started to avoid family pictures because I hated the way I looked.
"I had tried every diet going- calorie counting, fasting, no carbs, cabbage soup diets. I never managed to stick to anything long enough to see real results. I remember feeling terrified about walking into group for the first time, but I was met with such a warm welcome from the consultant, Lisa.
“I learned how to make some changes so I could still eat my favourite meals and lose weight at the same time. It was all about changing the way I cooked and realising that I didn’t have to starve to lose weight. The support I got in group from Lisa and the other members
was just incredible and I left group every week with a new tip or something on my shopping list to go and try."
Jenni’s weight loss journey inspired her to launch her own Slimming World group in Grangemouth, to help people like herself to lose weight and improve their health.
She has been running the Grangemouth group for six years – while also working as a hairdresser – and now has a second group in Bo’ness.
She says: “I absolutely love running my own Slimming World groups and supporting my members with their weight loss. Seeing them reach each milestone and celebrating with them is the most incredible feeling.”