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Ruth Steenson


“Being a size 22 and sitting in the interview room of a rugby club, I was sure they wouldn’t want me”

Have you ever felt like you’d never get your dream job because all the interviewer can see is your size and not your skills? Applying for a job in the sports environment made me question myself; was I good enough? Can they look past my size and see my potential?

  • Weight lost: 6st 4lbs*
  • Weight loss plan: Total

It wasn’t until the late 70’s, when the slim figure that I had known for so long began to change. I was working in catering and I found myself eating the leftover food. My mother brought me up with the war mentality that food wasn’t to be wasted. I was overeating enough to see my weight creep up by around 7lbs a year, for the next 30 years.

I remember thinking, I’m in my 50’s and I’m killing myself with food. I was on medication for heart palpitations and my blood pressure was sky high. Then in August 2015 I’d had enough.

I joined my local LighterLife group and followed the Total plan so I could lose a stone a month. I didn’t have three years to lose the weight, life’s too short to lose a quarter of a pound a week!

What’s great about working in the sporting environment is that I am surrounded by people who value being fit and healthy every day. Working alongside women who take care of themselves has made all the difference. I have typically worked around men my entire career. I value myself for the first time. I’ve started putting myself first.

After I lost the weight my husband confessed: ‘I thought you’d die before me. I was afraid of being left alone.’ This took me by surprise because he had always been supportive of me no matter what my size, but in that moment I saw the impact my choices had been having on his life, and my son’s.

I feel extremely guilty that my son is overweight because I passed on my unhealthy relationship with food to him. At 36 he had a mini stroke (TIA) and I now hope to set him a good example and help him lose the weight too.

Without the support of my Counsellor Georgina and the ladies in my group I wouldn’t have achieved it. I can truly say that the weekly group support makes all the difference. I’ve come off all heart medication, I’m no longer out of breath and my blood pressure has dropped dramatically. I feel 15 years younger.

For anyone thinking about joining LighterLife, don’t wait like I did, join today. It’s the best decision I ever made.”

*Each of our client’s results and stories are unique to them and their experience of LighterLife. Your own results will be personal to you and may vary.


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Each of our client’s results and stories are unique to them and their experience of LighterLife. Your own results will be personal to you and may vary.


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