A woman has revealed how she lost six stone in seven months by making a huge change to her exercise regime.
She has opened up about her previous weight saying that it was stopping her from "being the confident version of me" as she wanted to "feel like the fabulous me again".
Aine O’Conor, 30, said that she was on maternity leave after giving birth to her first child, Grace, when she decided that she wanted to lose weight.
The first-time-mum revealed that she realised she needed to make major changes to her lifestyle after feeling like she was being judged for her appearance, report Manchester Evening News.
The trained beauty therapist, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, believed that her size held her back as she has revealed that her weight creeped up to over 16 stone due to snacking, housework and sleepless nights.
With nine months off work, Aine says that she decided to use the free time she had on her hands to get back into shape.
After signing up to Slimming World back in April 2022, in just seven months Aine lost an incredible six stone – going from a dress size 20 to a 10.
While the 30-year-old mostly puts her success down to being more active, she has revealed that she is still able to eat what she likes.
In order to begin her weight loss journey, Aine set aside time to walk every day and soon built up to doing 10,000 steps a day.
She said: “I knew my weight was holding me back and stopping me from being the confident version of me.
“Working as a beauty therapist and managing two salons, I was feeling that others may make assumptions of me, my size and judging my ability on my weight.
“This is something that made me judge my confidence even more I am aware how important image is in the job that I love to do, however, this wasn’t my sole reason for wanting to lose weight. I realised how little energy I had and really wanted to feel like the fabulous me again.”
Aine revealed that she previously tried Slimming World and felt awkward about returning.
However, she said that upon going back and talking about her goals, she felt "instantly at ease" and because of this was motivated to achieve her target weight.
The mum-of-one said: “I think it didn’t work because I wasn’t in the right headspace and was doing it for the wrong reasons.
“I was purely doing it for my appearance. Which although there was nothing wrong with that, when I didn’t achieve fast results I just switched to a fad diet.
“This time, it was more for health as well as appearance but I wanted to be able to enjoy life a bit more and move more freely especially after welcoming Grace knowing I’d soon have a toddler to keep up with.”
She continued to say: “Bev the consultant not only made me feel welcome but my gorgeous baby girl Grace too as I had taken her along with me. I felt instantly at ease, the members too were amazing.
“Bev explained the group would be essential in supporting me to get to my chosen target weight and this is where the support would be to help me set my own goals, working on weekly behaviour changes and the psychological element.”
Aine says that she is still able to eat out once a week, and even enjoys a few glasses of wine on a Saturday night due to following fitness videos and incorporating 10,000 a day into her routine.
She says that she now feels like she never has to deprive herself of her favourite foods, including curry and pasta.
Now five dress sizes smaller and able to buy clothes she loves from shops of her choice, Aine says she now feels and looks more fabulous than ever.
“I am well on my way to reaching my personal chosen target weight loss of six stone,” she added.
“Bev and the members have been brilliant - I am so looking forward to 2023.”
