A mum-of-two has told how she lost four stone in just one year after her daughter’s school pals thought she was pregnant.
Louise Dunning, from Dublin who now lives in Co Westmeath, went from a size 18-20 to a size 10-12.
She told the Irish Mirror: “My daughter had just started school and she said to me: ‘My friends asked are you pregnant and I said no, you’re just fat.
“I said ‘Right, it’s time for me to do something about this.’”
Louise struggled with her weight since she was in her 20s, and admitted she used to allow herself too many treats.
“My problem was things like bread and chocolate,” she explained.
“When the kids would go to bed I would treat myself and it wouldn’t just be one bar – sometimes it would be three or four.”
After trying all kinds of different diets and quitting Slimming World twice, she showed up at her local group with a renewed sense of purpose.
She dropped from 14 stone to 10 stone over the course of a year and has managed to keep the weight off for 14 months so far.
“I don’t use packet stuff any more – I cook meals from scratch that my kids can eat as well,” she said.
“We’ve all benefited from it – more vegetables, more fruit, and less rubbish in the house.”
She said she’s a bit nervous about Christmas, which brings a lot of temptation.
“I am a bit afraid of putting weight on over Christmas, but I’ve got a friend in group and we’re going to be like a helpline for each other,” she continued.
“Instead of stuffing food in our mouths, we’re going to send each other a text and be there as support.”
She added: “I’m planning on having a big Christmas Day, like everyone else, but that’s kind of it.
“I have foods that would trigger me, like mince pies, so I just don’t buy them. And the rule is that if the rubbish isn’t gone by New Year’s Eve, we have to get rid of it.”
Louise, who works as a childminder, said she now has so much more confidence than she did before her weight loss.
“My confidence has really improved. Our Slimming World consultant Cathriona said that I was like a mouse when I first walked into group.
“When the weight was gone, all of a sudden I was yapping away to people.
“Sometimes when you’re overweight you feel like you have to be quiet, or you have to be bubbly because fat people are supposed to be bubbly.
“Or you feel like you shouldn’t be eating in front of people because you’re worried that they are making comments behind your back.”
She shared her advice for anyone struggling to lose weight.
“Join a group and buddy up with someone who is going through the same thing as you, who you can talk to,” she said.
“Remember that you have to do it for yourself, not anybody else.”
