When Nadene joined Grow in June 2022, she was at her heaviest weight and struggling with low confidence and a lack of energy. Juggling a busy family life, she had always put herself last, but after seeing photos from a weekend away, she realised something had to change.
With the support of her family, friends, and the Grow community, Nadene has transformed her life, losing almost four stone and maintaining her weight loss for 18 months. This is her inspiring story of finding balance, confidence, and happiness.
Starting weight 14st 4½lbs
Weight now 10st 4½lbs
Height 5ft 4ins
Total weight loss 4st

My family, my motivation
My home is a hub of activity. Married to Stuart for almost 25 years, my life revolves around our three grown-up children, Lewis, Thomas, and Grace, and their ever-changing schedules.
Lewis, 29, has recently married his wife Cath, both solicitors. Thomas, 27, serves in the army and often spends long stretches away from home, but he has recently bought his first home with his girlfriend Abbie and will be moving into it when he returns. Grace, 22, has completed university studies in optometry and is now working a full-time job where she will soon become a fully qualified optometrist. She is in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend Rhys, and they split their time between both homes. Our house is chaotic 90 percent of the time, just how I like it.
Amid the whirlwind of family life, I’ve always put everyone else first. But by June 2022, my weight had crept up to its highest point, and I realised it was time to focus on myself, especially for Lewis and Cath's wedding.
I realised it was time to focus on myself, especially for Lewis and Cath's wedding.
From despair to determination
For as long as I can remember, my weight has been a battle. I was always up and down, gaining a few pounds, losing a few, then gaining them back again. During lockdown, things got worse. I wasn’t up and down anymore, I was just going up. By the time I joined Grow in June 2022, I was the heaviest I had ever been, even more than when I was nine months pregnant.
I hated looking at photos of myself. It wasn’t just about how I looked but how I felt about myself. I didn’t have the energy to enjoy the things I loved, and my confidence was at an all-time low. I knew something had to change, but it felt overwhelming. I was desperate to feel better in my own skin.
During a bank holiday weekend away with family and friends, I finally hit my turning point. We had the best time partying, but when I saw the photos afterwards, I was horrified. I couldn’t believe that was me. Enough was enough. I knew that I had to take control.
My friend Claire Rivers had been following Grow, and she was smashing it. She was doing amazing and seemed so happy. She showed me how the plan worked and how flexible it was. It didn’t feel or look like a diet, and it felt sustainable. She sold me the dream and honestly, joining Grow is the best thing I have ever done.
I knew Grow was the key to my success. I lost 10lb in my first four weeks.
Starting my journey
When I first joined Grow, I was nervous. I didn’t know if it would work for me, but from week one, I started to feel better. The plan just clicked, and I’ve loved it ever since.
I’ve tried every weight loss method you can imagine. From calorie counting, keto, and points-based diets, nothing ever stuck. Counting calories was too time-consuming, converting calories to points or other slimming counting systems was too much effort, and keto just wasn’t sustainable. Grow is different. It isn’t a diet. It’s a complete lifestyle change. It retrained my brain to make healthier choices, and now I do it without even thinking.

Changing my relationship with food
One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed is how I view food. I don’t snack anymore. I used to eat without thinking, but now I only eat when I’m hungry and I stop when I feel satisfied. My meals are based on Grow’s ZeroCount foods, and they’re so filling and delicious that I don’t ever feel deprived.
Weekends used to be all about takeaways and indulgence. Now, I love recreating those meals at home. I make things like Indian curries, chow mein, and kebabs, the kind of food we would have ordered, and they feel like a treat. It’s all about finding the balance. I can still enjoy the foods I love, but in a way that fits the plan.
Even my weekly shopping habits have changed. My trolley is filled with ZeroCount foods first and Smart Calorie items second. I make sure I get my five-a-day most days, if not every day, and I genuinely enjoy the meals I’m eating.
Grow has given me the tools and the mindset to make better decisions around my food choices and Grow's healthy eating plan, Everyday Balance, is so easy to maintain.
The power of support
I couldn’t have done this without the support of my family and friends. My family have been incredible. 99% of the time, they eat what I eat, and if we go to their houses, they cook something to suit me. Every Wednesday, after I’ve been to a group, we have dinner together. We call it “Stuart’s Night,” and the first thing they ask is, “How did you do this week?” They’re always so encouraging and full of compliments.
My friends have also been a huge source of encouragement. At first, they were a bit surprised when I made different choices when eating out or skipped a takeaway during nights in. But now, they’re so supportive. In fact, a large group of my friends have joined Grow themselves, and they’re all doing amazing. We even have a WhatsApp group where we share recipes, tips, and motivation. It’s fantastic.
Achieving what I thought was impossible
Since losing almost four stone, I feel like a completely different person. One of my proudest moments was walking up Pen-y-Fan without stopping or feeling out of breath. I couldn’t have done that when I was carrying an extra few stones. My joints don’t ache anymore, and I feel lighter, healthier, and more confident in every way.
Clothes shopping used to be something I dreaded. Now, it’s a joy. There’s so much more choice, and I don’t have to worry about bursting out of anything. I’m nearly 51, so I’m not about to start wearing belly tops, but being able to tuck a blouse into a pair of jeans and feel comfortable is the best feeling ever.
Maintaining my success
The real success isn’t just that I’ve lost the weight, it’s that I’ve kept it off. Eighteen months after reaching my Lifestyle Weight, I’m living proof of what Grow is all about. Grow is about losing weight through small, sustainable changes and keeping it off. As a Lifestyle Member, I’m at the lowest end of my weight range, which gives me some flexibility. I still use my recipe books every week and plan my meals around ZeroCount foods. If I’m eating out, I know how to make choices that fit within my Smart Calorie allowance, and I don’t panic about it anymore.
I’ve also learned to use my Smart Calories wisely. I add little extras to my meals, like croutons, avocado, pine nuts in my salad, or a Yorkshire pudding and stuffing with my Sunday dinner. It’s the same food I’ve been enjoying all along, just with a few added extras. I haven’t gone back to my old habits, and I don’t want to. I love my food the way it is.
A ripple effect of positivity
The changes I’ve made haven’t gone unnoticed. The gossip around town is that I’ve had a gastric sleeve! I can laugh about it because the truth is, my success has come from hard work, determination, and a plan that works. A gastric sleeve wasn’t an option for me. I know it’s a tool that helps some people, but I knew when I found Grow that I could do it without major surgery or weight loss injections.
My journey has also inspired my family to embrace a healthier lifestyle. They’ve always been into fitness, and I’m their biggest supporter. I used to “carb up” with them before their half-marathons without running the race myself. Now, I’m more mindful of what I eat, and it’s made a difference for all of us.
My advice to you
If you’re thinking about joining Grow, my advice is simple, don’t wait. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. The plan is flexible, sustainable, and fits perfectly into real life. You don’t have to be perfect. It’s about making progress and learning as you go.
Looking back, I feel nothing but pride for how far I’ve come. My Grow journey has been incredible. At the time of writing this, I’ve been following the plan for over two and a half years, that’s over 130 weeks, and I’ve maintained my weight loss for 18 months. I’ve achieved my Lifestyle Weight and gained so much more than I’ve lost. If I can do it, anyone can.
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