Michelle said that despite playing sports for years she had always struggled with her weight. No matter how many times she trained or how many different diets she tried, the weight always returned as the diets were too hard to stick to for any length of time. Michelle joined her local Slimming World group in February 2013 and in under 12 months lost three stone and has maintained her weight loss ever since.
While on her way to reaching her target weight she was overjoyed to win slimmer of the week, and slimmer of the month. She says that her new trimmer figure has helped her keep up with some of the younger teenagers on her local football team, and that she now also enjoys sports like running and has even joined a local cycling club.
One of the best things about the Slimming World plan was how much food one could eat freely by food optimising, and unlike other diets she had tried she did not need to avoid or restrict carbohydrates. She found it amazing that she could still enjoy some her favourite foods like pasta bolognese, curries, roast dinners, and she could even have dessert. The thing that still surprises her most is how much food she can eat and never feel hungry again, while still losing weight! If anything, she says that she eats more now than she ever has. She said that she still recalls the first evening she went to Slimming World, and how she was outside the door of the hotel trying to pluck up the courage to go in. From day one she realised that she was no longer alone in her struggle and that everyone including the consultant were lovely, welcoming and friendly.
The weigh-ins weren't the dread she had imagined as participants' weight is entirely confidential. Every week in body magic she received all the support and encouragement necessary, which helped her continue on her weight loss journey and helped her regain her confidence. Slimming World and her fellow members became part of her extended family and she doesn't consider it a diet any longer but a new healthy way of life. No longer does Michelle find herself avoiding pictures, as she has a newly found confidence and pride in her appearance which she would never have believed possible. She said that she has also found a new love for clothes shopping as she can fit into clothes she once only imagined wearing.
The best thing about being so much lighter is that she can buy clothes almost anywhere off the peg and that they work out much less expensive as a result. Michelle has been so inspired by her group experiences and her weight loss that she is opening her own group on Monday evenings, starting on October 5 in the Plaza Hotel Westport at 5.30pm and 7.30pm. She would love for you to come and begin your journey to a slimmer you with her. For more information contact Michelle on (086 ) 8985927.
