A Co Down woman has revealed how shedding over seven stone has given her back her health and a new life.
Lynda McLeigh, 52 and from Downpatrick, has seen her weight drop from 17st 8lbs to 10st 2lbs and it's all thanks to the team at Slimming World.
Her wake up call that her lifestyle needed to change came two and a half years ago when she went for a medical check-up.
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"I was stunned when I learned I was 17st 8lbs. At that point my health was at an all-time low. I suffered with fibromyalgia — a condition that causes fatigue and widespread pain all over the body. I was on 21 tablets a day and my husband Joe used to have to roll me out of the bed in the morning because I had no energy," Lynda explained.
"I used to hear people say that weight has a lot to do with fibromyalgia and I would laugh and say: ‘what would they know?’ My doctor told me that the amount of tablets I was on in terms of pain relief, the next step would be morphine patches and I just couldn’t believe it.
"My daughter Sarah suggested that I join Slimming World and I refused. I pictured all these skinny, gorgeous women looking me up and down, so I decided to join the online programme instead and I lost over two stone."
That Christmas Lynda admits that she started to fall into bad habits again and then in January 2017, she decided to join a Slimming World group and has never looked back.
"The challenge was to readjust my attitude towards food. I started going out with my husband when I was 15 and around that time I also began working in a bar, so that is when my unhealthy eating habits started," she said.
"I would eat half a dozen packets of crisps during my shift and get a takeaway at 2am. When I fell pregnant with my two children, life got in the way of my plans to lose the baby weight.
"My son was three when he was diagnosed with autism and I decided to stay at home to look after him. I was a childminder and then became a foster carer, and I said to myself: ‘I am going to do everything to look after these kids.’
"Looking back I channelled all my happiness through the children. I have fostered 10 children over the years that have stayed with us long-term. The longest child in my care came to us when he was a toddler and now he’s 21 and still with us.
"The youngest child in our care is nine and we have had her since she was six months old. They both have special needs so it is full-on. In the evening I would have a Mars bar and a coffee sitting with my husband and every night of the week I used to bring a large tube of Pringles with me to bed and then hide the evidence in the morning.
"But I was in a hole, I didn’t think my health could improve, I thought I would have to live in pain forever."
Now, Lynda says her life couldn’t look any different.
"I went from being a size 22-24 on top and a size 16-18 in bottoms to wearing a size 10 dress. I just love Slimming World. My husband says the change in me has been incredible," she explained.
"I think I have only ever missed two classes and that was because I was out of the country at the time. Cooking is a joy now. I love Slimming World lasagne and steak with Slimming World chips and vegetables. It really is just taking things out of the fryer and cooking it in a healthier way.
"That is all it took to change my life. In the past I used every excuse possible not to go out, I would buy a kimono to cover my fat and then hide in the corner until I had a few drinks to loosen me up before we got on the dance floor. Now, I can’t wait to go out.
"You have some people who say, ‘you were disgusting, how did you let yourself get so big?’ and then you have other people who say, ‘you have taken this too far, you never used to wear clothes like that’. Very few people will just say you look amazing, whereas I once thought that people were judging me when I went out, now I just go out and have fun.
"I went to Ladies Day last month and I also received an award for Foster Carer of the Year. I would not have accepted that award in front of 150 people two years ago, I would have made an excuse. But I did it and it was the weight loss that gave me the confidence to do so."
Lynda said the greatest gift Slimming World has given her is her health.
"When the weight fell off I experienced less pain and I am now completely off my medication. Everything used to be a struggle, but now I get up at 5am every morning and run for two and a half miles. The friendships I have made through going to a group class have also been life changing. I may have lost a person (in weight), but I’ve gained a new life," she added.
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