Susan Brelsforth and her daughter Holly, who are from Birmingham, managed to shed a combined 18st 12.5lb after joining a Slimming World group and changing their diet
A mum and daughter who survived on doner kebabs, takeaways and pizza have lost almost 19 stone between them after refusing weight-loss surgery.
Holly and Susan tried countless diets but struggled to keep off the weight. “At one point I was even offered weight loss surgery by my doctor, but the idea of going under the knife scared me,” said Holly.
However, after joining Slimming World Susan Brelsforth, 62, and daughter Holly, 26, managed to shed a combined 18st 12.5lb.
Holly, who once weighed more than 24 stone, was told she needed to lose weight before doctors would operate on her injured knee. Meanwhile Susan realised she had to make a change after becoming so breathless climbing the Statue of Liberty that family members had to pull her along.
Holly, who works in IT, said: “I’d been overweight for as long as I could remember. As I reached my teens my weight spiralled and it wasn’t long before it started impacting my health.
“By the time I was 16, I was taking 20 tablets a day to manage my severe asthma symptoms.
“We always felt so restricted in what we could actually eat – and while we’d lose some weight, at times we felt like we were missing out – like we couldn’t enjoy food anymore.”
She added: “We’d avoid physical activity as much as possible before. Even something simple like walking would feel difficult and exhausting.
“When I injured my knee after a fall and was told I needed to lose weight before I could have an operation, I knew I needed to do something.”
For childminder Susan, the wake-up call came while struggling to keep up on a family holiday to New York.
Susan, from Birmingham, said: “I struggled to manage my weight after having three children. As they got older and life got busier, I stopped looking after myself – and over time my weight became too difficult to deal with alone.
“The final straw for me came when I was on holiday in New York and I couldn’t keep up when we were climbing the Statue of Liberty.
“I was so out of breath that the others had to physically pull me along. I was so embarrassed. When I got home from holiday, I knew I needed to make a change for good.”
The pair were offered gastric surgery but refused and instead chose to join Slimming World in 2020 and 2023.
Slimming World is a UK-based weight-loss organisation that combines eating plans, physical activity programs and community support.
Since signing up to the programme, the mother and daughter have radically changed their eating habits and ditched takeaways for healthier dishes.
Holly has since lost 13st 4.5 lb, while Susan shed almost six stone. They have now been named Slimming World’s Two Together 2026 winners.
After shedding the pounds, Holly was finally able to have her knee operation.
She said: “Eventually I started swimming, which I love now. And as I got fitter and my confidence grew, I challenged myself to a complete two-mile swim – something that would have felt impossible before.
“Now I swim three times a week, no longer struggle with my asthma and feel fitter than ever.
“It’s shown us that with the right support, real change is possible – and that it can be done without surgery or weight loss drugs.”
