In 2026 I joined Slimming World to lose a ‘bit’ of weight. I did not join Slimming World to become the kind of forty‑plus woman who hikes across hills like she’s training for a mid‑life Everest attempt. Yet here we are.
Somewhere between counting syns (or SWIPS) and counting how many times I can trip over my own boots, I discovered hiking — and apparently it’s my new personality. Hiking was meant to be a gentle way to get my steps in. Next thing I know, I’m halfway up a mountain, sweating, swearing, and pretending I’m “taking in the view” while my legs stage a full‑scale rebellion.
Nothing burns calories quite like hauling yourself uphill while trying to look like you’re not dying inside. And being in your forties means you’ve stopped caring about looking glamorous, which is ideal, because mountain walking turns you into a windswept, red‑faced warrior of questionable decisions.
So yes, I’m now a Slimming World mountain‑walker. A forty‑plus woman with sturdy boots, a sarcastic attitude, and a habit of dramatically sighing at anything with an incline. And somehow, despite all the complaining, I’ve never felt stronger or more alive.
