Janice’s remarkable four-stone weight loss
Janice Kelly from Athlone was very unhappy with her weight.
She was 4ft 11 and size 16. She also suffered with ill health and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2021. She had arthritis in her left hip and sometimes the pain was so bad she had to use crutches to get around with her weight making things worse.
She tried lots of ways to lose weight like cutting out the 'rubbish' but they never worked. She read a story about a couple who lost a lot of weight in Slimming World Roscommon and this got her thinking about joining a group.
The final straw came when she saw a photo of herself that she really disliked. She wasn't confident enough to go a group on her own, so she enlisted the help of some friends and they joined their local group in St Kieran's Community Centre.
Janice says: "I needn't have been too shy to go on my own, the Slimming World consultant there, Pauline Bliss, gave me such a warm welcome and made me feel at ease straight away, she is so down to earth and dead funny!"
Janice couldn't believe the variety of foods she could eat, foods like pasta, rice and potatoes, lean meat, pulses and fish. She was never hungry and never felt like she was on a 'diet'.
She enjoyed cooking meals from the Slimming World's Fakeaway range, her favourite is Orange Chicken. She didn't have to cook special meals either, everything she cooked, the whole family could enjoy, normal every day dinners like Spaghetti Bolognese. All Janice had to do was make some simple swaps.
As the weeks went on, she couldn't believe it as her weight began dropping off.
Janice herself was soon giving her own help and tips to the other members. She says: "They are all so friendly, we have a coffee and a chat and help each other get set for the week ahead." Pauline Bliss says: "It has been so lovely to see Janice grow in confidence as her weight has dropped off. She is an absolute inspiration to the whole group, she looks fantastic and we are so proud of her amazing achievement."
Janice went on to lose four stone and says: “This weight loss has helped me regain my health. I have gone from a size 16 to a size 6!
I was on seven tablets a day for my fibromyalgia, I only need two now, and my arthritis pain in my hip is so much better. I love to walk and I could only manage a small walk before, now I get out there and walk 10 to 15k every day, I feel amazing, Slimming World has literally changed my life."
The members of the group voted for Janice to be their Slimming World Woman of The Year 2022 a few weeks ago in recognition of her wonderful achievement. Janice was absolutely blown away and delighted by this honour.
Sinead Morris who runs the Slimming World group in the Shamrock Lodge says the Woman of the Year is a terrific award as this is when the members themselves vote for the winner, as a way to recognise and acknowledge it's the highlight of the Slimming World calendar every Summer.
Carol Doran Joyce who runs the group in Kiltoom Parish Hall says they had a special Woman of the Year celebration in their group a few weeks ago with her member losing an amazing five stone.