40 years of helping the UK lose weight! ADVERTISING FEATURE.

In 1969, Concorde took its first flight, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon and another groundbreaking event - one that would transform the lives of millions of people in the UK - took place.

Slimming World, the UK's favourite way to lose weight, was born.

This year Slimming World is celebrating 40 years of helping people lose weight, get active and feel amazing - thanks to a powerful combination of healthy eating plus support and motivation at weekly groups. The vision created by the company's founder and chair Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE, was groundbreaking 40 years ago, and is still at the forefront of weight loss strategies today.

Slimming World's sophisticated and effective approach is based on an understanding of how people with a weight problem feel - and a passionate desire to help them achieve their weight loss dreams. It's an integrated mind and body approach, based on the psychology of slimming as well as nutrition, that has been a recipe for success for millions.

"Food Optimising turns dieting on its head - with marvellous results!" explains Slimming World's nutritionist, Dr Jacquie Lavin. "Instead of telling you what you can and can't eat, Food Optimising puts you in control, so you don't have to change your lifestyle to fit a new way of eating."

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, this year Slimming World launched a new eating plan called Extra Easy, which does what it says on the tin. It makes losing weight even easier and more flexible, with no need for faddy counting and weighing.

The stroke of genius in Food Optimising is Free Food - healthy basics like fruit and veg, lean meat and poultry, rice and pasta, that you can fill up on so you never need feel hungry. These foods are very filling yet naturally low in calories, so by making them the focus of your diet, you naturally lose weight while satisfying your appetite!

What's more, because it's based on wholesome healthy everyday foods, Food Optimising is family friendly - and budget friendly too. Many members of Slimming World report that they now spend less on the family food bill because they're not splashing out on expensive ready meals and takeaways - particularly helpful in the current economic climate.

But healthy eating is only part of the picture. Members receive advice, motivation and support every week in group, from other members and from a Slimming World Consultant.

To celebrate Slimming World's 40th anniversary, Slimming World is holding a record-breaking "biggest ever" birthday party in every Slimming World group across the country in the week starting on September 28 - and everyone's invited!

To find out more about how you can eat more and weigh less, it's a great opportunity. There's no charge and no obligation, but if you like what you find and you decide to join you'll get half-price membership.

To find your nearest group call 0844 892 0489 or visit www.slimmingworld.com/forty

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Rebecca Guimar...es lost 1st 7lbs to reach her dream weight. Inset right, Rebecca before she joined Slimming World