After losing 16st I have to admit I feel pretty awesome

PICK UP A COPY OF UNISLIM’S FEEL SUMMER FABULOUS PLAN, IN CLASSES NOW TO FIND YOUR LOCAL CLASS VISIT UNISLIM.COM OR CALL 1850 603020 TODAY

Once hitting the scales at 30 stone, Julie Fitzpatrick has lost a phenomenal 16 stone and her confidence is at an all time high!

THROUGHOUT my life I have always been overweight and have tried every diet under the sun. I would set myself a goal for a wedding or Christmas, but as soon as the event was over the weight would go back on. In 2009 I lost seven stone, but put 10 stone on the following year, that’s the way I was, up and down over the years.

In 2015 I lost my dad who I was very close to suddenly and within three months I put on a further three stone. I was eating through my grief and pretty soon I realised that I was a heart attack waiting to happen.

My health was deteriorating, and I knew if I didn’t do something about my weight I wouldn’t be around for much longer. It came to a stage that even walking across the room had me out of breath.

In January 2016 I made the decision that it was my time to make a change. I walked into my local Unislim class in Portlaoise and got a big shock when I stepped on the scales and saw my weight, but my leader Breda said ‘It’s only a number Julie, you can do this.’

Straight away the Unislim plan made sense to me, it was all about eating real food. I started cooking for myself and focused on eating three meals and two healthy snacks every day. Now I am never hungry and I don’t deprive myself of anything. I am in control of food now whereas before the food was controlling me.

Exercise was my stumbling block but I knew I had to start somewhere so I began walking around a tennis court near my home. At the start, I could only walk for 12 minutes but now, just two years later, I’m walking for an hour every day. I also love going to dance classes and have started training for a Couch to 5K. I’m fitter than ever!

To keep myself focused, I set myself mini goals and challenges and worked towards them month by month. I believe I can reach my goal and I am not giving up.

My confidence and energy levels have absolutely soared since joining Unislim. It’s just amazing! I love the clothes I can wear now and my new shape, I used to cover up before – but now I can wear what I like and feel great. I can even walk across the swimming pool in my swimsuit and not care who’s looking at me —that’s the level of confidence I now have. I’m a lot happier, a lot healthier. People always said that I was the life and soul of the party but nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors — my weight was bothering me. I always wished I could do something about it and now I have.

I am so proud of myself and of what I have achieved.

It’s only since I reached 16 stone weight loss that I’ve said to myself ‘You know, I am pretty damn awesome’.

My health has gone from rock bottom to top level. I am now off all blood pressure medication and my blood sugar and cholesterol levels are perfect now.

I’ve never been so healthy in my life and it’s all thanks to the fantastic Unislim plan — it has really changed my life.

And though I am still on my weight loss adventure, I know my Dad is looking down at me smiling and saying, ‘I so proud of you’.