Deirdre lost pounds to rejoin family in photos

Deirdre McKeon, living in Rathowen, has praised the Mullingar Slimming World group for both its weight loss and social benefits.

Deirdre, originally from Meath but living in Rathowen with her family, joined Slimming World with John Quinn in Mullingar in March 2018.

"All my friends had joined Slimming World, but I thought it wasn’t for me, I didn’t want to be measuring food," Deirdre said.

"I had tried plenty of other diets which didn’t work, and my friends talked about Slimming World. I decided to join but it took me weeks to build up the courage to go in," Deirdre said.

Deirdre explained how she had always struggled with her weight growing up and told the Westmeath Examiner what motivated her to join.

"I looked back at pictures of my kids growing up, there were very few with me alongside them because I was never happy to get into a picture because of my weight.

"When my son was in sixth year in school, it dawned on me that his debs would be coming up, and I wanted to have pictures with him, so I needed to feel happy to stand in a picture with him," Deirdre said.

Deirdre has lost 4st 5Ib over the years but she mentioned other benefits of joining the group.

"The fun that I have there, the people I’ve met and the craic and laughter we have, and relief as well," Deirdre said.

"My kids said to me that I seemed so much happier after joining. My family have been supporting me through it all," Deirdre said.

Deirdre had nothing but praise for the group in Mullingar run by John Quinn, or Banjo, as he is known.

"You’re made to feel so comfortable. Before I went in, I was feeling ashamed but the minute I got in, you get that feeling that everyone is in the same boat. It’s like home," Deirdre said.

"Banjo was so straight with everything. There’s no airs or graces with anybody – it’s like talking to your family and it made everything so much simpler to feel comfortable.”

Deirdre also mentioned that she has a healthier relationship with food now than she did before.

"Slimming World looks at everything but mainly based around food and no food is forbidden. That’s one thing I love about it," Deirdre added.

"Before I joined Slimming World, I realised I was not really eating, whereas now I do, I eat more now even," Deirdre added.

The Mullingar Slimming World group meets on Tuesdays at Mullingar Park Hotel and you can find more information on slimmingworld.ie.

https://www.slimmingworld.ie/counties/county-westmeath/mullingar