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FOR five years, Tameside’s Jane Sigley stood proudly as a shining example of Slimming World success.
After reaching her target weight in November 2018, she transformed not just her figure but her entire life.
But recently, Jane has made the brave decision to open up about a deeply personal journey – one of unexpected weight gain, chronic illness and resilience.
Jane became a Slimming World Consultant after losing nearly two stone and finding a sense of confidence and freedom she’d never experienced before.
She recalls the joy of being able to wear whatever she liked without feeling self-conscious, the ease of everyday life and the noticeable difference in her netball games. “Everything changed,” she says. “I felt amazing.”
While the COVID-19 pandemic challenged many people’s routines, Jane stayed on track, maintaining her weight and even continuing to inspire others. But behind the scenes, she was quietly fighting a very different battle – one with her health.
Over time, Jane was plagued by unexplained chronic pain, relentless headaches, insomnia, and memory fog. With frequent hospital visits and a growing list of diagnoses – including tinnitus and eventually fibromyalgia – Jane found herself overwhelmed physically and emotionally.
As her health declined, so did her eating habits. She began to turn to food for comfort, eating in secret and slipping back into old patterns. “I didn’t even like the foods I was eating,” she admits. “It was about the short burst of gratification, not enjoyment.”
Eventually, Jane weighed in at 14 stone and half a pound – over three stone above her target. It was a devastating moment for someone who had not only been an inspiration to others but had been living the role of a Consultant.
The internal conflict was immense. She felt embarrassed, demotivated, and hypocritical – offering advice she struggled to follow herself.
And yet, throughout all of this, Jane never stopped showing up. She never stopped caring for her members, and she never stopped believing that, one day, she would find her way back.
And now she has.
Thanks to the support of her fellow Consultants, her dedicated members, and her own determination, Jane is back on her Slimming World journey – and this time with even more insight and empathy.
She’s already lost 1st 7lbs and is on her way to achieving a new Target weight of 10 stone. “This time around I’ll be collecting my four stone award instead of two,” she shares with a renewed sense of purpose.
Despite the continued presence of fibromyalgia and the day-to-day difficulties it brings, Jane already feels lighter – not just physically, but mentally. The return of movement and energy is already making a difference in her daily life.
Jane’s honesty is empowering. “A smile certainly fools many things,” she says. Her story is a reminder that we never truly know what someone is going through, even if they seem outwardly fine.
Her journey is about more than a number on the scale – it’s about self-belief, resilience, and showing others that it’s never too late to start again.
Jane’s Top Tips for Staying on Track:
- Support is Key: Jane leans on a fellow Consultant for daily meal inspiration and connects regularly through her Facebook and Instagram pages.
- Plan for Nights Out: She eats filling, free foods during the day and always has a “ding meal” (like chilli) ready at home to avoid late-night temptations.
- Know Your Triggers: Through self-reflection, she’s learned to avoid danger zones—like family-size bags of Doritos—and instead finds satisfying alternatives that fit within her plan.
- Favourite Meals & Treats: Chilli, steak and chips, diet coke chicken, and sweet chilli prawns are some of Jane’s top Slimming World-friendly favourites. Her treat of choice? A well-earned Snickers ice cream saved for the end of the day!
Jane’s biggest fear? That others might question her place as a Consultant due to her weight gain. But it’s that very vulnerability and honesty that make her so relatable and so inspiring.
Her message to anyone struggling?
“Start now – because I was miserable for too long. We can do this. Watch out when I’m a Target member again – because I will be.”
And with the strength and determination she’s shown, there’s no doubt she will.
Jane runs a number of Slimming World groups in Tameside and Glossop – she can be located at Guide Bridge Theatre every Saturday from 8am and Hadfield Cricket Club every Tuesday at 9 and 10:30am.
Find your local Slimming World group: www.slimmingworld.co.uk
