Cathy, a busy mum of three has changed her life by losing over two stone in six months. Over a year ago, Cathy was out for a walk with her three young children, and could not keep up with them without loosing her breath. She noticed that her weight had crept up over the years after each pregnancy. Like most mums, she prioritised her family and neglected herself. At her heaviest weight, and with three young children, Cathy’s confidence and self esteem was at its lowest point, and it began to affect her life to the point that she no longer wanted to socialise with others. “I felt I was moody to my children, I did not want to go out for any social event, and it was all down to the way I felt in my own skin.”
Cathy’s turning point came when her health insurance was due for renewal. “As I could not afford to renew it, I quickly drew the conclusion that a healthier lifestyle would make more sense and make me feel more secure without health insurance.” Cathy spotted an advertisement in her local fitness centre for Slimming World and decided to give it a try. It was January 2013 which saw a determined Cathy arrive at her local Slimming World group. On walking through the doors, she felt so welcome, and immediately felt at ease. Cathy could not believe all the food she could eat with Slimming World. “Our family favourite are fish and chips, and I can still have my chocolate treat every day!” Cathy particularly loves the fact she can have unlimited potatoes, pasta and rice.
In her first week, Cathy was thrilled to discover she had lost 5.5lbs, by eating the foods she loved. When speaking about her group, she said, “it felt like being I was being hugged every week, the moral support was a lifesaver for me, especially during the tougher weeks along my weight loss journey.” A big advantage to Cathy was how child-friendly her group was and this made attending group so easy.
After losing two stone, Cathy feels more confident, positive and energetic. “Now not only can I run after the children and manage to keep up, I run 10k three times a week. “I was elated to have completed the Fields of Athenry 10k road race last St Stephens Day, and I genuinely feel I would never have walked that distance let alone ran it twelve months ago.”
The highlight of Cathy’s year came when, in July 2013, after reaching her target weight, she was chosen as Best Dressed Lady at the Ardilaun Hotel’s First Furlong Luncheon, during Galway Race Week, judged by Mary Bennett of Treasure Chest and Bairbre Power, Fashion Editor at the Irish Independent. “I know this might sound funny, but winning that title felt like an accolade to my weight loss achievement. I could not be happier than I was that day, and that was down in no small part to Slimming World”.
In conclusion, she says “I cannot express enough how happy I am to have changed my life around and I feel so passionate and positive that I want to share my experience and knowledge with others. I am now opening my own Slimming World group in The Maldron Hotel, Oranmore on January 23rd 2014 at 7.30pm. For further information, Cathy can be contacted at 086 8334484 or via her facebook page.