“It’s all about damage limitation, but I’ll still enjoy my Christmas pudding”: Super slimmer’s tips for keeping the pounds off this festive season

For mum-of-five Julie Ridley, 51, the key to not going overboard with the turkey and trimmings, is all in the planning.

Earlier this year Julie shared the incredible story of how she dropped 13st and 10 dress sizes in 19 months, after a wake up call before her 50th birthday.

At 25st, Julie joined Slimming World in March 2017, getting down to a healthy 12st by October 2018.

Speaking to the Gazette, she said losing the weight completely changed her life and transformed how she thinks about food.

She even went on to help others shift the pounds, launching her slimming group, Slimmers for All in South Shields in October.

But she won’t be letting all her hard work go to waste just because it’s the festive season.

“My plans for Christmas this year are just to stay focused on what I’ve already achieved,” said Julie, who now cooks everything fresh instead of grabbing food on the go.

“I cook differently now for the whole family so Christmas dinner isn’t a problem.

“It’s all about planning, it’s easier to stay in control if you have a plan. I’ll still enjoy myself and have my Christmas pudding and some drinks but apart from that I’m okay.”

Julie now makes better choices for the whole family and has even made up her own low-calorie selection box.

“It’s all about damage limitation,” she continued.

“I have the family round and do a big buffet on Boxing Day, but with me in charge of the cooking I chose lower calorie foods.

“My selection box is filled with low calorie sweets and treats. Apart from the Curly Wurly, which is 118 calories, everything else in the box is under 100 calories.”

However, she’ll still be enjoying a well-deserved tipple or two come Christmas Day.

“The only thing I’ll be going overboard on is having a few more gins than normal - and I know how I can count them in,” she added.

Julie’s group Slimmers4all is held every Thursday night at 7pm and Friday morning at 9am at St Bede’s Church Hall, South Shields.