Fantastic five aim to trim down town

Dec 26 2012 by Andrea O'Neill, East Kilbride News

A group of local ladies who shed a massive total of 19 stones have vowed to battle the town’s bulge in the new year.

With two out of three adults in Scotland classed as obese and rates of folk piling on the pounds soaring, five women from the East Kilbride Slimming World group are starting a new chapter in their lives by becoming consultants.

And Margaret Miller, Emma Monaghan, Jackie McGrouther, Lorraine Seix and Frances McLaughlin, are proof that age is no barrier when it comes to turning your life around.

The successful slimmers are eager to do their bitto help the weight lossorganisation achieve its aim of ‘helping one million members in the UK at any one time.’

Margaret, Emma, Jackie, Lorraine, and Frances have all had very different journeys, but they all started by taking the first brave step of walking through the door of their East Kilbride-based group.

Feelings of shame, guilt and hopelessness were soon forgotten with the warm welcome they received.

Margaret Miller, 49, of Westwood, gained weight after undergoing medical treatment.

After losing three-and-a-half stones she has found a new active lifestyle.

She said: “I have joined a local bowling club and play most days over the summer. During the winter I enjoy running about at boot camp. I am now six dress sizes smaller and have reached my target weight.”

Glasgow mum Emma Monaghan, 26, found she didn’t have the energy to run after her young daughter.

She said: “I didn’t want to go out because of my weight, I hated being the fat one amongst all of my friends. I thought that this was just another faddy diet but I’m now seven stones lighter. I’m happier and healthier and feel like my old self.”

Jackie McGrouther, 52, of Uddingston, runs her own business and found that eating on the move became the norm.

After joining her local group she lost nearly two stones in 20 weeks and has kept to her target weight for over two years.

She said: “Being able to choose my own target weight was so refreshing as I thought I would be told what to do.

“I felt in control and continuing to stay at my group sessions has helped me maintain my weight.

“I now have Free Lifetime Membership and have made lots of new friends.”

Being told by her doctor that she might not see her children grow up because she was obese spurred Greenhills mum-of-three Lorraine Seix, 37, into taking drastic action.

She said: “It was important to me knowing that my weight would never be disclosed.”

Lorraine followed the Extra Easy plan which has no limit on the amount of food you can eat and fitted easily into family life.

She added: “I couldn’t believe that I could lose weight without feeling hungry. I was able to make the same meals for us all to eat.”

So far Lorraine has lost five-and-a-half stones.

Frances McLaughlin, 51, who has lost over one stone, and is at her target weight, found that the support from her consultant, Pamela Kerr, was invaluable.

“She helped me to see that it’s not about the amount of weight you need to lose, but how you feel about yourself that counts”, she said.

“Staying to the weekly Image Therapy sessions really made a difference.”

Anyone wishing to meet the ladies, hear more about their life-changing stories, and meet other local Slimming World consultants, can pop along to East Kilbride Town Centre this Saturday, December 29, where they will be on hand to answer questions and hand out leaflets.

The ladies added: “There are approximately 30 million people in the UK who are overweight and the numbers are growing.

“We’ve changed our world and we want to help others change theirs.”

The ladies will be holding their groups at the following venues: Murray Owen Centre, Murray, East Kilbride, on Monday December 31 at 7.30pm then Tuesdays thereafter.

Call Margaret on 07731 115071.

Salmon Leap, Calderwood Square, East Kilbride, on Wednesday January 2 at 7.30pm then Mondays thereafter. Call Emma on 07805 005220;

The Busby Hotel, Field Road, Busby, new consultant from Wednesday, January 2 at 7pm. Call Jackie on 07791 980619.

St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Cedar Drive, East Kilbride, new consultant from Thursday, January 3 at 7.30pm. Call Lorraine on 07966 27412.

Eaglesham Scout Hall, Strathaven Road, Eaglesham on Thursday January 3 at 7.30pm.

Call Frances on 07952 303313.