North Bersted slimming champ clinches rare double awards

Zoe Lysandrou has collected an award given to only four people in the UK every two years for her work helping others lose weight.

The 32-year-old received the Jean Nidetch award from Weight Watchers' UK senior vice-president, Mads Ryder. She also collected a diamond award for her business achievements in the past year.

Zoe is still in shock after her double accolade for helping scores of people slim down at six meetings in Bognor Regis, Bersted and Pagham.

"I was overwhelmed and over the moon," she said. "It's a lot to live up to, having met previous Jean Nidetch winners.

"They are all fantastic people. I don't want to let my members and my class teams down."

The award is named after the founder of Weight Watchers who began organising weight-loss meetings in Brooklyn, New York, almost 40 years ago.

It recognises leaders who make every effort to help their members shed their excess pounds.

Zoe picked up 1,000 as part of her award. Weight Watchers' area manager Anita Merrick paid fulsome tribute to Zoe. "She is a fantastic example of a Jean Nidetch winner," she stated.

"Zoe is a real team player. Nothing is ever too much trouble. She looks amazing and, whenever I go to her meetings, I can feel the benefit her members are getting.

"She makes everyone feel welcome and valued. She genuinely doesn't realise how amazing she is."

Zoe's previous recognition includes being the subject of a magazine article about her successes.

Zoe, who has two children aged 13 and seven, became a leader five-and-a-half years ago after she lost four stone on the programme.

She explained: "It's important that I know how my members are feeling and I can really understand the highs and lows of trying to slim down."

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