Our Member Stories

Martina Davey - 6 stone 11 1/2 lbs lost

I started my weight loss journey in March 2017 and have lost 6 stone 11.5 pounds through Charlotte Downey's Slimming World Class in Carraroe, Sligo. Charlotte is a great Leader, motivator and is very personable. I did not focus on the end goal as this would have been counter productive for me, instead I went week to week and focused on half stones.

It's very important to get weighed every week and to stay to group, as it sets the agenda for the coming week. After going to group, you think twice when faced with unhealthy choices during the week. Getting the Greatest Loser Award twice in a row 2018 & 2019 gave me a great sense of achievement.

I reached my Initial target weight loss of 5 stone 9 pounds in August 2018, but decided to loose a further half stone and reached my Interim weightloss Target of 6 stone 1 pound in May 2019. However, the weight continued to come off and I have now lost a total of 6stone 11.5 pounds and am very happy with this. Once to get to Target, it is important to keep attending classes regularly and of course its free for target members once within range.

Since loosing the weight, I have completed the Sligo Camino twice, enjoy exercising and learned to jive. I have so much more energy and have noticed great health benefits too, which was the main reason for me wanting to loose weight.

For anyone out there who is battling with their weight, taking the first step on to the scales is the hardest thing you will have to do.

You can do it too.

Charlotte, your Slimming World Consultant

2 1/2 Stone lost

Martina Elliot - 4 Stone Lost

I joined Slimming World back in October 2016 and I will always remember that day. I felt so ashamed of myself It was the heaviest I had ever been. I cried going in I cried getting weighed and I cried when I went home but it was the best thing I could ever have done. On that day I decided I was never going to carry weight again.

With the help of my lovely leader Charlotte and my slimming world family I have never looked back. It is a fantastic plan and you don’t feel deprived and yet you still lose weight.

For anyone starting out I would say give yourself time to settle into the plan. You will be pleasantly surprised at how amazing the meals are and how the whole family enjoys them. Food optimise and fill up on speed, body magic for me is a great tool. Even when the weight loss can be frustrating stick with it as the results will come. No matter what continue to weigh even when you reach target. Charlotte put up a quote one day

Losing weight is hard

Gaining weight is hard

Choose your hard

This has always stayed with me I chose my hard. If you have off days just reset and start again.

Kay Duffy - 5 1/2 Stone Lost

My name is Kay Duffy, with the help of Slimming World I lost five and half stone and successfully reached my target weight. I attend Carraroe’s Slimming World Group on Tuesday morning 7.30am (Consultant Charlotte Counihan Downey).

I joined Slimming World way back in April 2013. I remember thinking that walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, I was embarrassed about my size and scared that I might be the biggest person there. I needn’t have worried though, everyone there was so friendly, I was so relieved when I found out that my weight was confidential - I’d had visions of having to tell everyone how much I weighted!

In Carraroe Group we are so fortunate to have Slimming World Consultant Charlotte Counihan Downey. Charlotte is so dedicated, she makes everyone feel welcomed and at ease. Throughout your Slimming World journey you can be guaranteed, she is always on hand, be it by phone or in group offering support and encouragement every step of the way.

In group, I’ve made so many friends and I honestly don’t think I could have done it without their support and that of my consultant. They helped me with recipes and tips. If I was ever struggling they were always there to remind me why I’d wanted to lose weight in the first place and how far I’d come.

If you think slimming means going hungry, eating nothing but salad or obsessively counting every calorie you eat, then think again. With Slimming World you can eat so much food, lose weight and be health.

I still enjoy all my favourite meals especially Sweet and Sour Chicken with rice but I have learned how to make small changes like using lean meat, cooking with low calorie spray instead of butter/oil and cooking meals from scratch. I love nothing more than trying out new recipes that the whole family eat and enjoy.

Slimming World has changed my life for the better, I’m happier, healthier more confident person. I’m achieving things I never thought, since losing the weight I have taken up cycling and have joined a local cycling club. I am much more active and enjoy going for walks, yoga and the outdoor gym.

So if you are seriously thinking of losing weight and changing your life for the better, I highly recommend you join Carraroe Slimming World Group. Classes are every Tuesday mornings 7.30am and 9.30am also Saturday mornings 8.30am and 9.30am where Charlotte will be there so you’re in safe hands. You have nothing to lose only your weight, best of luck and if you join the 7.30am group on Tuesday, don’t forget to look me up and be sure to say hi.

If I can do it, you can do it too

Leo McGurrin - 5 Stone Lost

Hello there Slimming World people!

My name is Leo Mc Gurrin and I'd like to tell you a little bit of my story so far. I first joined the Slimming World Carraroe family in April 2018 and I was 5 stone heavier than I am now. I have a lot of health issues, severe arthritis, Have had two hip replacements, COPD, heart disease (6 stents) and in December 2017 I was diagnosed with bowel/colon cancer and my health was suffering greatly after operations and treatment. I joined Slimming World in April and things started to improve immediately and a year into Slimming World in spring 2019 I was diagnosed with kidney cancer and had to take a break from SW for treatment. I was very lucky it was caught early and I only needed chemotherapy to treat it.

Doctors had advised me down through the years to try and lose weight, and try as I might I was unsuccessful until I found slimming world, I was introduced to SW by some close friends who were very successful losing weight with SW who knew I was struggling with the weight problem. I was introduced to food optimising, it wasn't a diet, it was about eating properly. I found that I could eat until I was satisfied, previous diets were torturous. I was hungry and miserable all the time and all I could think about was food, the wrong kind of food snacks, sweets, biscuits and cakes, but with the SW plan or food optimising I'm never hungry and I can snack away on all the fruit I like.

I have been in the catering trade all my life and thought I knew a lot about food but SW has taught me a lot more about it but in a different way. I'm still learning and love to try new recipes all the time. Apart from the food I have made a whole heap of great new friends who actually understand me, probably as we all share the same relationship with food.

There is a warmth and friendship in the Slimming World Carraroe group and when I go into group on a Saturday morning there is a big smile from everyone and they're genuinely happy to see me. It's as if they can't help it....... and something you can't hide. You can see that they genuinely care about you and it's the same for everyone. It's one of my "happy places".

I was truly blessed to have met Charlotte our super duper SW consultant who has always been there for me in all my up's and downs.

Slimming World has given me a new lease of life and an understanding of my relationship with food. My health has improved far beyond my expectations and if I'm truly honest with myself I would not be here at all if it wasn't for slimming world. I am very happy and grateful for this improvement and that I will be around to see my family flourish.

I no longer feel like the fat guy in the corner, out of breath because of the weight I was carrying. I feel happy in my own skin now. I know that this journey I'm on will never be finished and I'm very happy about that because it is a very pleasant journey and all because I walked through the doors of Charlotte's Slimming World Carraroe.

Much love and gratitude for the never ending support to all my SW friends

Leo

Xoxoxo️

Marina Scally - Target Member - 1 1/2 Stone Lost

I started Slimming World with Charlotte in October 2018 and have never looked back!

Starting on my journey at my heaviest and feeling zero control over my weight, I knew I wanted (and needed) to do something. Having tried SW before and losing weight, I knew it worked. But once I got to the weight I wanted, I left feeling no need to keep going each week.

As soon as I met Charlotte, I knew I would love this group, she is so welcoming. Group is always so interactive and is a great way to share ideas and tips with each other. Throughout my journey, Charlotte has always been encouraging through the good and not so good weeks, keeping it real.

Charlotte thought me how to remain motivated, breaking it down and not losing sight of my end goal and the bigger picture. I reached my target in December 2019 and have remained within target. I honestly don't think I could have done this without Charlotte's help, guidance and support. I continue to attend group and weigh in each week.

Thank you so much, Marina x

Trish Henry - 3 1/2 Stone Lost

I joined Slimming World in Carraroe in January 2019. I was at an absolute low emotionally and physically. I had lost my baby boy Patrick at 5 months pregnant in November 2018. I had no strength or willpower to look after my health for those couple of months. I had spent two months comfort eating on top of baby weight and had put on a few stone. At Christmas I made a promise to myself that I would join Slimming World in the New Year. I felt unhealthy, and uncomfortable in my own skin, and I wanted a sustainable weight-loss programme.

A friend came along with me to join Charlottes group, we were both nervous and not quite sure what to expect. We were put at ease as soon as we walked through the door. Charlotte greeted us and introduced herself. She was so welcoming and warm and I knew we had made the right decision. She ran through the Slimming World programme with us in her ‘new member talk’ and then we joined the main group.

I had heard that everyone gets a chance to speak within the group and to be honest I was quite anxious about this. I really do not like speaking in public. I was quickly put at ease (again) as Charlotte put no pressure on anyone to do anything that made them uncomfortable. As Charlotte went around the group you could really see how much she cared for everyone and how much she wanted everyone to be happy and relaxed. The feeling of support for everyone from everyone else in the group and from Charlotte was hugely obvious. On leaving the group that day I was so motivated to have a good week and I was really looking forward to returning to the group the next Saturday.

Well that was over 16 months ago and I am still attending my group every week and still loving it. I have lost 3st 7lbs so far and made such wonderful friends for life.

Charlotte and Slimming world has helped me to see that healthy eating is a lifelong habit. Nothing is out of bounds and you can still enjoy your favourite treats, in moderation! I am now so much happier in my own skin. I have a new found confidence and I love shopping and dressing in clothes I only ever dreamed of wearing. I am fitter and healthier for my family too. I am so happy I made the decision to put myself and my health first and I can’t thank Charlotte and our Saturday group for supporting me all the way.