Cherie Forde from Corrandulla has lost a life-changing 5st 4.5lbs with Slimming World, and 7st in total to take the title of ‘Greatest Loser 2022’ at Maura’s Slimming World group in the Menlo Park Hotel.
Cherie, who turned turned 50 in September 2020, made a promise to herself to lose weight.
“My weight impacted on so many aspects of my life. I was embarrassed looking at myself in the mirror or in photos and I hated trying on clothes,” she says.
Her weight was also putting a huge strain on her health. She felt tired regularly, had very little energy and she was heading down the road of knee replacement surgery two years ago. She was also unable to exercise because of her weight.
First she started to do it on her own and lost 1.5 stone. However, she felt she needed the support of a group to keep going as she had tried numerous times in the past. but she would give up after a while and put all the weight back on. So she joined Maura’s Slimming World group in the Menlo Park Hotel, and loves the encouragement she gets from the group.
“There is never any judgment and Maura is always so supportive. At the weekly meetings we share recipes and tips and learn so much from each other.”
Cherie lost a stone in her first four weeks with Slimming World and hasn’t looked back since. She loves the choice of food she can eat still lose weight.
“I plan my meals in advance which means that I can still enjoy things like mayonnaise with my meals or a bar with my coffee. I vary what I have from day to day, and my favourite breakfast is oat pancakes with lots of fruit. I make sure I never go hungry, so I bring fruit with me when I am on the road at my son's matches and training. Slimming World’s Food Optimising plan is family friendly, so my family were eating the same meals as me. I am so thankful for the support of my husband Patsy and my sons Jack, Adam and Barry.”
As the weight came off, Cherie found she had more energy and last year she started swimming daily in the sea, a hobby she has taken up for the first time in 30 years.
“I am so proud to have been able swim 13km last August in memory of my sister-in-law Frances while also raising money for Cancer Care West," she says. "I feel like a new woman – I’m happier, healthier and I feel much more confident.”
Maura, who runs the Menlo Park Slimming World group, says the changes in Cherie are "incredible".
"I hope her success will inspire others. There’s a warm welcome waiting at Slimming World, and with summer on the horizon, maybe this is the time to make those changes and form new lifestyle habits to become happier and healthier.”
To join the nearest Slimming World group, visit www.slimmingworld.ie
