Eye slimmer Karen Price set to relaunch Rickinghall Slimming World group after losing seven stones

An Eye woman who has lost more than seven stones in weight is about to relaunch a Rickinghall slimming group to help others to take control of their weight.

Karen Price, 53, said joining Slimming World had helped her to take control of her health, her weight and her future.

For most of her adult life, Karen battled with her weight. It began aged 13, following surgery to remove a benign tumour from her inner thigh – an operation that also took one of her major thigh muscles. Once a sporty teenager who loved netball, hockey and swimming, Karen’s active lifestyle came to a halt and then life took over.

“I was working full-time, raising a family and juggling responsibilities as a Special Constable for Staffordshire Police,” Karen said. “We ate out a lot, had takeaways regularly and I didn’t prioritise my own health.”

By the time she moved to Suffolk in 2008, Karen was wearing a size 26 and estimates her weight was more than 20 stone.

“When we moved our local takeaways even gave us bottles of wine to thank us for our custom,” she said. “I wasn’t sure whether to be proud or ashamed.”

But in 2012, everything changed. Karen was diagnosed with the early stages of kidney failure, alongside uncontrolled diabetes, high cholesterol and an underactive thyroid.

“My doctor warned me I’d need dialysis within five years if I didn’t act fast. That was my wake-up call,” she said.

Karen joined a Slimming World group in Stowmarket and began the journey to reclaim her health.

“It was like trying to solve a giant jigsaw puzzle—balancing insulin with food was tough,” she said. But she started to see results. By 2013, she was down to just over 17-and-a-half stones and by 2017 she had reached 15st 13lbs.

“I thought I could go it alone, but I was wrong,” Karen said. Her weight crept back up, so she rejoined her local Slimming World group in Eye and joined bootcamp.

“I started running with other mums from school – they left twig arrows to guide me and always waited at the finish line. That support meant everything,” said Karen.

In 2018, Karen completed the Great North Run half marathon with her best friend.

“I fell in love with exercise,” she said. “Now I do bootcamps, kettlebell classes, box-fit and the occasional parkrun.”

Today, Karen is at her lightest adult weight – more than seven stones down from her heaviest, with just over four stones lost with Slimming World. She has gone from a size 24/26 to a 14/16 and her health has transformed.

“I’ve reduced my insulin dramatically, my kidneys are functioning normally and I’ve been discharged from hospital monitoring,” said Karen.

“My journey has taken the scenic route, but I’m proud of every step. I’m stronger, fitter, healthier and finally feel like me again.”

Her message to others?

“You can do it. It might take time, but every step forward is worth it.”

Now, Karen has completed her training to become a Slimming World consultant and will relaunch her Rickinghall Slimming World group, at Rickinghall Village Hall, at 5.30pm on Monday. Contact her on 07812 105228.