Julie thriving since she lost 4st 7lb… after menopause

Julie Jordan began to notice around 2013 that she had started to gain weight, was feeling tired, experiencing mood changes, was lacklustre and had lost a lot of her joy in life. She had started to go through the menopause.

Julie wanted to regain her life and when her sister asked her to join Slimming World as a support to her, Julie agreed and has never looked back.

Julie lost 4st 7Ib and has maintained her dream weight since July 6, 2014.

Now, she is looking back and sharing her story to help other women as they reach the menopause.

Caroline Toal, who is the consultant for the Slimming World group in the Mullingar Park Hotel, says that at Slimming World, “we know that everyone’s symptoms are different, many of them can have an impact on weight or bring new challenges to what have been long held healthy eating and activity habits”.

The perimenopause and the menopause are linked to the drop in reproductive hormone levels that naturally happens as women get older, and that can influence where body fat is stored, says Caroline: “So, if hormones don’t directly cause weight gain, why do so many women find they gain pounds at that time of life?

“Well, research suggests that muscle mass reduces during the menopause (most likely due to those hormonal changes) as we age – we tend to be less active. Both mean our metabolism can slow and we burn fewer calories. And that’s before we get on to the impact the symptoms can have.

“Reassuringly, evidence shows that eating a healthy, balanced diet, and maintaining an active lifestyle can help manage symptoms, sustain lean muscle, maintain metabolism, prevent weight gain, and support weight loss.”

Julie was fed up with her weight and struggles with menopause and that is what took her to Caroline’s group in the Mullingar Park Hotel on Monday June 9, 2013.

When she walked through the door first, her reaction was ‘here we go again trying to lose weight’, Julie says now.

Julie was welcomed to the group and as she listened to the new members talk, she knew things would be different this time.

She listened intently as Caroline shared how to lose weight through the genius of Free Foods, Healthy Extras and Syns.

Caroline says Food Optimising and Free Food are rooted in the science of energy density (the calories per gram of food) and of how filling a food is for us when we are trying to lose weight.

Julie loves baked beans as they are so versatile and filling: “I can add them to dinner, baked potatoes. I also love homemade soup with a sandwich, curries, and Cola chicken – to name a few.”

Some of the symptoms women experience are disrupted sleep, mood changes, joint aches, pain, and stiffness.

Julie, who lives in Bunbrosna, says that she started losing weight through the Food Optimising plan and moving more through the Body Magic Activity Programme. “I love working in my garden and it is such a pleasure for me to be in it. I can move more easily since losing weight.

“I love shopping for clothes now and I love how healthy I am and that I feel great in myself. Being in the group helped me work on myself and build a greater understanding and relationship with food and drink.”

Caroline says that Julie is a huge support for everyone in group and she made lifelong friends there.

“As a consultant for nearly 12 years now, I always feel blown away by the friendships that are made in group. It is such an important part of our weight loss journey,” said Caroline.