'Losing the weight helped me to breathe'
Emma Grennan from Leamonaghan near Ballycumber, Offaly, can really now breathe a sigh of relief after losing over three and a half stone and getting healthy.
Emma grew up an asthmatic and used inhalers daily.
She recalls: “I remember always being bigger than my friends. Sometimes I needed to use steroids and they were my excuse for carrying more weight.â€
As an adult she tried many diets over the years, but never stuck with any as she always felt restricted and hungry.
After her second child was born she never really lost “the baby weight†and seemed to be getting heavier. She said: “I remember a friend telling me that I dressed well to cover up my size. While visiting my sister in England I told her I was fed up with myself and my size and she told me about a Slimming club she attended there. I had never heard of it, but got really excited when I heard that I could eat potatoes and pasta on their plan.'
In 2013, Emma decided to join Slimming World Tullamore, weighing in at 13st 2lbs.
“I was shocked at my weight but did my best that week and lost 5lbs on week one.
“Any fears I had were soon gone as I received a lovely welcome from the consultant, there was a great buzz and excitement in the group, so I soon felt very much at home. When I was told abut all the food I could eat I was hookedâ€.
Emma lights up when she tells us: “The lovely thing is that my whole family can enjoy all the meals, as it's ordinary everyday food, our favourites are vegetable curry with boiled rice, Slimming World quiche with salad and chips, homemade burger with sweet potato dip and side salad, I even enjoy a cuppa and a curly wurly or a few drinks if I'm going out, with no guiltâ€.
Emma has lost an amazing three and a half stone and boy is she feeling the better for it.
She told us that her asthma has improved and that she has so much more energy and best of all is that she feels so confident in herself. She said: “A big part of me has changed, which the scales can't measure but I know how much of a happier person I am now.â€
With Emma's new confidence she has decided to take on the role of becoming a Slimming World consultant
She explained: “If I can help people feel what I feel, then that will make me an even happier person, I want to reach out to anyone who is hurting and feeling bad in themselves with the burden that weight carries. I feel so passionate about it as I know that there is great support with Slimming Worldâ€.
Emma will relaunch her group on Tuesday July 18 at The Charleville National School, Church Road, Tullamore, there are two sessions 5.30 or 7.30.
For more information contact Emma on 087 6356848.