Tig Blair and Jan Martin set out to lose weight - and found friendship in the process. Tig and Jan met at the Williton branch of Slimming World. They've since met their health goals and become friends for life.

Tig, 59, of Williton, joined Slimming World after she was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. Tig recalls her typical evening meal at that time as: “sandwiches on white bread with lots of butter, crisps, cake or snacks.” 

Through an improvement to her diet and an increase in exercise, Tig shed 5 stone, and reports that she is no longer pre-diabetic. She added that she can now: “cross my legs while sitting and tie my own shoelaces.” 

Jan, 75, of Watchet, joined Slimming World when she noticed deterioration in her mobility and breathing. 

Jan would often eat a fry up for breakfast, and a “thick toasted cheese and ham sandwich with lots of crisps and cake to follow.” of an evening.

But after swapping the Full English for cereal with fruit, Jan managed to drop 5 and half stone. Jan happily reports that: “I can walk a lot further doing 10,000 steps or more, simple things like going up and downstairs instead of taking the lift, I also started swimming again. My mobility has improved so much.”

But the pair didn’t just lose weight, they met one another and found a friendship. Jan lives on her own, and said that her friendship with Tig was a “massive lifeline”. 

The bond helped the women through lockdown, and to the successful end of their weight loss journey. 

Tig and Jan continue to be involved in Slimming World. They give back each week by making hot drinks at their Wednesday group and enjoy supporting the other members there.