A Co Antrim woman has opened up about how her journey with Slimming World started because she had endometriosis.
Kerry Downey, 44, from Ballymena, had suffered with the condition for over 20 years.
For Kerry the pain was debilitating and when she went to a surgeon, she was told she was "too fat and that was probably the cause of the endometriosis".
Read more: Co Down woman on her amazing 8 stone 3lb weight loss
"It most definitely wasn't!" Kerry admitted. "I decided for the fifth time to join Slimming World. I hated being fat - in my head though I didn't think I was, until I saw photos. I was a size 18/20 and hated wearing big clothes with them still clinging to my stomach."
Kerry joined Slimming World at Ballymena North Centre in July 2016 and set herself a 2 stone target but never thinking that she'd get there.
"I didn't really get into losing weight until November 2016 and I saw another picture of me at my niece's 21st birthday. Something just clicked and it started to work.. I kept losing a small bit at a time.
"The support I got in our Saturday morning group from the amazing members was fantastic. I made so many good friends and they also helped me on my journey - they are friends for life now. It took me 11 months to lose the 2 stone. I felt like a failure because people had lost that in a few weeks but I kept going.
"I set a new target of 2½ stone and I got to that by my 40th birthday in May 2018. I was 3 stone lighter and I felt great. I was able to buy a dress size 14 and I went to the Galgorm Resort and Spa and didn't feel embarrassed in the swimming suit I had on."
Kerry also started working with a personal trainer but she was still suffering with pain due to her endometriosis.
"I was never able to do sit ups and by the end of the 12 weeks I was able to do 100 so after that I kept going, half a stone at a time. The pain didn't ease though as I was still crippled so being fat didn't cause my pain," she said.
"In October 2018 I was told I'd be having a hysterectomy the following month to help with my endometriosis although this is not a cure for many. At my last weigh-in before my operation, I received my 4 stone award and won Miss Slinky.
"I was totally over the moon and felt fantastic. A few days later I was a bit worried about the operation and the healing process but I breezed through it. I didn't have to spend too long in the hospital and I had not one bit of pain.
"I really think it was to do with losing all the weight, exercising and eating healthy foods. Then I received the 'Greatest Loser' award in group in March 2019 and again I was over the moon.
"I had set my final target of 5 stone and I would have liked to hit it for my 3 year anniversary in Slimming World that July but unfortunately I didn't get it. I won't lie I had been struggling and wondering why it had taken me so long to get to this but I kept going as I'm so determined."
When Kerry finally got to her 5 stone target . . . in lockdown, she was over the moon.
"I literally cried that morning then couldn't stop smiling all day, my jaw was sore. I then set myself a challenge to walk 2021 in 2021 and this helped me along my journey. Then I set a 5½ stone target. and I was over the moon to reach it by my 43rd birthday in May 2021.
"After that the next challenge was to lose 6 stone and I got the walking challenge finished in August 2021, four months early."
For Kerry, losing so much weight has helped her in many ways.
"My asthma isn't bad anymore, my blood pressure has been regulated and I've been able to walk (in one go) 30miles. I have climbed the highest mountain in Northern Ireland, Slieve Donard, and loved it. The feeling of completing it was awesome," she explained.
"My brother set me a challenge in September 2021 to start running and anyone who knows me knows I always said 'oh I'll never run'.. But don't set me a challenge as I'll not give in, I will complete it. I ran my first 5k a month later and I've since gone on to run a half marathon (13.1 miles).
"I also did a mighty hike (26.2miles) around the Causeway coast for Macmillan Cancer, where I was able to raise over £1,000. I also plucked up the courage to do coasteering and before my weight loss I couldn't have done this. It has given me a new lease of life and I'm 100% pain free."
And Kerry has this advice: "All I can say is, if you are struggling (as I have in the past) ask for help. If you've had a bad day don't give up, get back to it the next day. There are always people there to listen to you and offer advice."
READ NEXT:
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- Co Antrim mum's pride at maintaining her target weight over the past 12 years
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