Jess Westbury, 30, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was a size 24 and weighed 17st after years of battling with her weight – but it was horse riding that became the wake-up call
Slimming World star Jess Westbury embarked on a mission to lose weight after realising her enjoyment of life, including her passion for horse riding, was diminishing, along with ‘constant pain’. At 17st, the 30-year-old struggled to walk 3K steps a day and needed a larger horse for riding.
“I was lucky if I did 3k steps a day, mainly because my body couldn’t take it. I couldn’t enjoy horse riding – something I’d always loved – because I could only ride on a specific kind of horse that would be able to carry my weight, which weren’t as easy to find,” Jess says.
Having battled with her weight since she was a teenager, Jess shares, “I’ve always felt like the ‘bigger’ friend. I started putting on weight when I was around 16, and it affected my confidence. I really loved swimming at school but I was so self-conscious that I would get a sick note to get out of lessons.
“Looking back now, my weight was having a bigger impact on my day-to-day life than I initially thought. My knees and back were in constant pain, and I could barely make it up the hill to the top of my road without getting out of breath. Ella was still so small and I didn’t want her to grow up without me being able to do everything with her – she was the motivation I needed to make a change.”
After welcoming her daughter, Ella, now two, Jess took the leap and joined her local Slimming World group in January 2023. “There were so many emotions going through my mind that first night. I was nervous and scared, and felt embarrassed at the thought of being judged. I tried to block those thoughts out and as soon as I walked in I felt loads better. Everyone was so lovely and kind – and I never once felt judged. Looking back now, it was the best decision I could have made,” the Chesterfield mum says.
With Slimming World’s healthy eating plan and physical activity support programme, Jess dropped five dress sizes, going from a size 24 to 10, as she shed an impressive 6st. “As I started losing weight, I was able to walk further and for longer – and without any struggle. I’ll now happily walk for miles and no longer need the bigger horses when I’m horse riding, which is such an amazing feeling,” she explains.
On her new approach to healthy eating, Jess, an account manager for a haulage company, says, “The way I cook now has totally changed. I love food, so knowing I didn’t have to stop eating the food I love, like chips and chilli, or that I didn’t have to cook separate meals for my husband Dan and Ella, was music to my ears. Instead, I started making easy swaps like making my own homemade chips in the air fryer with low-calorie cooking spray instead of using oil or buying ready-made chips. The Slimming World app has been a game changer for me too – it’s so convenient when I’m shopping and preparing for the week ahead, and my go-to when I’m looking for new recipes to try. Our family favourite is spaghetti bolognese.
“Before, we would have at least two takeaways a week and ate out a lot, and I love that I haven’t had to give that up. Dan and I still enjoy the occasional takeaway and we go out for a meal every now and then too. Going to my group each week, and talking to Kerry and the other members about how they’ve embraced the plan, has helped me to enjoy some of my favourite treats – like desserts – when I feel like it too, without feeling guilty about it. The tips and learnings I’ve picked up along the way have been invaluable.”
The change in lifestyle has not only benefitted the whole family, but it has also helped Jess strive when it comes to her haulage business and rental properties with her husband. She says: “Managing a demanding business, where I’m constantly on the go, no longer feels like a chore. I’m able to do just about everything and anything, from jumping up into the lorries to cleaning the properties with no struggles, and I feel a lot more confident when I meet new clients too.”
With a new lease of confidence, Jess adds, “I no longer hide in baggy black clothes or shy away from trying new clothes anymore. I would live in leggings before, because they were all I felt comfortable in. Now I love experimenting with different styles of clothing – and wear bright colours too.”
Amid her weight loss journey, last year was a special one for Jess, as she tied the knot with her husband Dan, 37, and marked her 30th birthday milestone. Jess reflects, “2024 was a big year for me – I celebrated my birthday feeling the best I ever have. I got married in my dream wedding dress and I felt incredible in it too. It feels so normal now, but the fact that I can run around after Ella and even go down the slide with her in the park is huge for me – it’s something I absolutely dreaded before. I can’t wait to be the mum that wins the egg and spoon race at school now!”
Jess credits the Danesmoor Slimming World group in Chesterfield, run by Consultant Kerry Wright, to her success in overhauling her diet and lifestyle. “Before I joined Slimming World I thought I could do it alone. I tried to eat more healthily but I never stuck at it for long enough and always ended up falling back into my old eating habits. It wasn’t until I started to better understand my relationship with food, that it clicked for me,” Jess says.
She adds, “My group night has become time for me – and I always come away feeling inspired and motivated for the week ahead. A few of my friends have become members too, and it’s great that we can support each other.”
