A 59-YEAR-OLD from North Somerset has reached the semi-finals of a competition to find the UK and Ireland’s most inspirational slimmers, where she met Olympic shooter Amber Rutter.

Linda Bartlett was one of just 38 women to win a place at the semi-finals of Slimming World’s Woman of the Year 2024 competition after losing an incredible 11st 6.5lbs.

It was there that she was congratulated by Amber, who brought home a silver medal at this year’s Olympics in Paris.

Linda, who slimmed from 20st 0.5lbs to 8st 8lbs, made it to the semi-finals after members of her Weston-super-Mare group voted for her to go forward to the national Woman of the Year 2024 semi-finals at Slimming World’s head office in Derbyshire.

She says: “Before I joined Slimming World my confidence was really low, I knew I needed to do something about my weight because it impacted every aspect of my life, from the clothes I’d wear to the places I’d go – I thought about it non-stop.

Linda Bartlett before joining Slimming WorldLinda Bartlett before joining Slimming World (Image: Slimming World UK)

“I wanted to feel more comfortable and confident in my own skin, but I had no idea where to start.

“I decided to give Slimming World a go after my GP referred me for a 12-week trial.

“I didn’t know at the time, that it was the best decision I would ever make.

“Right from the first group, I knew I was in the right place to get the support I needed to make changes that would work for me and help me reach the size I wanted to be.”

Linda began following Slimming World’s healthy eating plan and loved that she could still enjoy her favourite foods and meals, by making changes to the way she prepared and cooked them.

She said: “I discovered a new way of eating that easily fit around my life and I felt in control when it came to food for the first time in forever.

“I love cooking things like roast dinners and curries, and everyone being surprised when I tell them it’s a Slimming World recipe.

“It wasn’t long before people started to notice changes in me and that gave me a huge boost to keep going.

“My Slimming World group and Consultant Nigel have been so supportive.

“Everyone was so friendly from the first group and now they’ve become great friends, they’re always ready with ideas and advice, and their support helped me to believe in myself and my ability to make changes and keep them up for good.”

As Linda lost weight, she was inspired by Slimming World’s physical activity support programme to start exercising, finding an activity she enjoyed and taking it at her own pace: “I started with short walks with my dog Teddy and I now walk everywhere.

“I do in excess of 20 thousand steps a day. Slimming World has completely changed my life.”

Amber, an English sport shooter who specialises in skeet, is a three times gold medallist and was most recently awarded a silver medal at this year’s summer Olympics in Paris. Amber was in awe of Linda’s transformation.

She said: “I think Linda has done amazingly well to change her life and her health around like she has.

“She seems so full of confidence now and she looks incredible too.

“It’s a reminder that you can do anything you want if you have the right people supporting you and you set your mind to it.”

Nigel Jenkins, who runs the Weston-super-Mare group that Linda attends, said: “Linda is such an inspiration and it’s been wonderful to see her transformation, not only on the outside but on the inside too.

“She’s grown in confidence and self-belief and I feel very lucky to have played a part in that.

“Linda gives so much support to the other group members and if there’s anyone feeling like she did before joining group, she is such a great example of what can be achieved.

“I would love to welcome anyone who’d like to lose weight to our Weston-super-Mare group at Weston Rugby Club every Friday at 7.30am, 9.30am and 11am or call me on 07583 917555.”