A woman who was “ashamed” of being obese and turned her life around by losing over five stone is on a mission to help others struggling with weight loss.
After over 20 years of trying and failing at fad diets Natalie Hogg reached her goal weight when she joined Slimming World and has now become a weight loss consultant for the company.
The 35-year-old of Highams Park suffered from migraines and back problems throughout her teens and 20s due to being overweight and says she want to help others going through similar experiences.
“I remember a night out when someone stuck a sticker on my back in a nightclub that said 'hazard, heavy load'”, she said.
“I fought back the tears as I didn’t want to ruin my friend's birthday and tried to laugh it off but I just wanted to leave. I felt like the whole room was laughing at me.
“After starting secondary school, I went to the doctor and he weighted me, measured my height and parts of my body and did the pinch test.
“Then he drew his conclusion and told me I was at the high end of obese for my age and height. I was so humiliated.
“Looking back, I don’t think I was as bad as I was made to feel.”
In a matter of months, Ms Hogg went from being unable to run due to joint pain to jogging 10 kilometres on a regular basis.
The fitness guru organised a charity run to mark the first anniversary of her father’s death and raised over £4,000 for Heart Research UK.
Ms Hogg, who worked in the prison service for 10 years before joining the Slimming World team earlier this year, said it was the company’s realistic food plans and group support that got her hooked.
She said: “By my late twenties I had reached around a size 20-22. Something had to change.
“I was scared about walking through the door thinking everyone would laugh at me, but in a matter of seconds, I was made to feel welcome.
“Slimming World has helped me fall in love with cooking and taught me how to be creative with normal foods.
Natalie took part in a charity run in memory of her father.
“If I can stop people going through some of the things I went through, I will have succeeded.
“I want to help people face their fears, stand by their side and let them know that they are not alone.”
Ms Hogg holds Slimming World group sessions at Highams Park School, Handsworth Avenue on Mondays at 7.30pm.
To contact Ms Hogg email nathoggswhp@gmail.com.
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