Daughter and dad’s 12st weight loss - and the family tragedy motivating them to stay healthy

SLIMMERS: Helen Ruiz and Bob Blenkinsop

By Rick Lyon

A woman and her father have spoken of how they managed to lose a remarkable 12st between them, and the family tragedy they are using as motivation to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Helen Ruiz was determined to lose weight after being upset by how she looked in a Christmas photograph of herself with friends.

She had struggled with her weight for some time, and had been unable to fully enjoy holidays and other occasions as a result, but the photograph was the final straw that prompted her to join Slimming World.

Helen, 43, committed herself to losing weight and dropped 8st over four years.

Her mother, Brenda, had been one of her biggest supporters but died when her body rejected a liver transplant.

Helen resolved not to let herself put the weight back on as she knew it was not what Brenda would have wanted.

Helen’s father, Bob Blenkinsop, had started putting on an unhealthy amount of weight after his wife passed away but, inspired by Helen’s efforts, he also joined Slimming World and lost 4st.

WEIGHT LOSS: Helen Ruiz, second from right, before and after losing 8st

They are both now determined to maintain their current weight, inspired by what they know would have been Brenda’s wishes.

Helen, a Territory Manager for Schwarzkopf, who covers 185 salons across East Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, said: “I’d worked in the pub and hotel industry, so I was used to unsociable hours and used to just grab something like a chip sandwich that was convenient.

“My husband is also a really good cook – which doesn’t help!”

“I didn’t binge eat or ever felt I’d lost control, it just crept up. If my daughter had some sweets, I’d pinch a couple – it was that sort of thing.

“It got to the point where I was classed as morbidly obese and when I saw that photograph, I thought ‘I’ve really got to do something here’.”

Helen, who lives in Elloughton with husband Roderick and their 12-year-old daughter Elise, joined Slimming World and never looked back.

She was named her Slimming World group’s ‘Woman of the Year’ just hours after her mother went in for surgery. Brenda didn’t ever recover and died in September 2018 after 45 days in intensive care.

INSPIRATION: Brenda Blenkinsop

“My mum was one of my biggest cheerleaders as I was losing the weight,” said Helen.

“The last thing I said to her was that I loved her and I wished her luck.

“On the night I was presented with the Woman of the Year award I gave a speech saying that she was my Woman of the Year.”

Brenda had been suffering from non-alcohol sclerosis of the liver. Her body rejected the transplant, leading to multiple organ failure.

Despite her grief, Helen resolved not to let herself slip back into bad eating habits.

“Death in a family can lead to a downward spiral, but I knew my mum wouldn’t want me to put all that weight back on again and that really motivated me,” she said.

“I was also part of something with Slimming World and that helped keep me going.”

PROBLEM: Bob Blenkinsop before his weight loss

However, Bob did start putting weight on following Brenda’s death.

Concerned by what she was seeing, Helen encouraged her father to do something about it and he eventually joined her Slimming World group in North Ferriby.

Former civil servant Bob, from Kirk Ella, said: “I’ve always had a problem with my weight and it just crept up and crept up throughout my life.

“I could have gone one way or the other after Brenda died, but Helen was a real inspiration to me and she’s been a big influence.

“I said to myself that if my daughter can lose weight, then I can lose weight.

“Brenda would also have said ‘sort yourself out and get out there and enjoy your life’.”

Bob, 72, joined Slimming World two years ago, lost 4st in six months and has maintained his weight ever since.

HAPPY: A slimline Bob Blenkinsop with his granddaughter Elise

This year, Helen won ‘Miss Slinky’ and Bob won ‘Mr Sleek’ at their Slimming World group. Both Helen and Bob said the group, and its consultant Kate Reid, have been a huge support in them keeping the weight off.

Bob’s weight loss has helped him recover his zest for life and he’s now determined to spend as much time as possible with his family, who also include his son Andrew, daughter-in-law Helen and nine-year-old grandson, Rudi.

Bob said: “I’ve had a lot of enjoyment from seeing myself a lot slimmer, but it’s cost me a bloody fortune in new clothing because I’ve dropped 8in off my chest and 6in off my waist!”

“Now I’m just determined to be here for my family, for as long as possible.”

• Slimming World groups are held across Hull, with Covid precautions in place at them all. For more information, visit slimmingworld.co.uk.