Mum and daughter shed nearly 19 stone
A Birmingham mother and daughter have lost a combined 18 stone 12.5 pounds – equivalent to the weight of a baby elephant – after ditching takeaways and fried foods. Susan Brelsforth, 62, and her daughter Holly, 26, achieved the remarkable transformation without weight loss surgery or fat jabs, instead joining Slimming World.
Susan, a childminder, lost 5 stone 9 pounds, dropping from a size 18 to a size 10 and now weighs 9 stone 4 pounds. Holly, an IT knowledge analyst, shed an incredible 13 stone 4.5 pounds, going from a size 38 dress to a size 12, and now weighs 11 stone 2 pounds.
Turning point at the Statue of Liberty
Susan knew she had to change when she struggled to climb steps at the Statue of Liberty during a New York holiday. “I was so out of breath the others had to physically pull me along. I was so embarrassed,” she said. After returning home, she spoke to her doctor and joined Slimming World through a 12-week referral scheme.
Holly’s wake-up call came when medics told her she needed to lose weight before surgery for a knee problem. At her heaviest, the 5ft 9ins woman weighed over 24 stone and was taking 20 tablets a day for asthma. She said: “By the time I was 16, I was taking 20 tablets a day to manage my asthma symptoms.”
Rejecting surgery, embracing healthy eating
Both were offered gastric surgery but turned it down. Holly said: “The idea of going under the knife scared me.” Instead, they transformed their diet, swapping takeaways for homemade burgers with chips and salad, pasta, and lower-fat versions of favourite dishes. Susan said: “We now eat more balanced, nutritious meals and have discovered a real love for cooking. We make time each week to plan and prep our meals.”
Holly added: “Before we joined, our diet had been mostly takeaways and deep-fried foods, and we’d often choose convenience over healthy options.”
Winners of Slimming World’s Two Together 2026
The pair have been crowned Slimming World’s Two Together 2026 winners. Holly, who previously avoided physical activity, now swims three times a week and completed a two-mile swim challenge. She said: “As I lost weight, I was able to have my knee operation, which helped my mobility so much. Eventually I started swimming, which I love now. 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.”
