Living her best life, some nine stone lighter due to Unislim
Máiréad McCaul decided to lose weight before a holiday and here she tells how she discovered a new sense of adventure
Ifeel younger, more energised and I look forward to trying new things, to the next adventure. I don’t hide in the background any more. It’s just a whole new lifestyle and I’m really living my life to the full.
After Covid, three friends and I decided we’d book a summer holiday together. We planned to go in June 2022 and booked it the Christmas before. I was talking with one of those friends and we both felt we were overweight, we wanted to do something about it so we could enjoy the trip. We decided to go to Unislim and joined on the 18th of January, 2022.
I remember queuing up for that class thinking, “Here we go again — Groundhog Day!” because I had tried so many other programmes and slimming methods before — tablets, drinks, I had even tried being hypnotised. Nothing worked. I would usually do well the first couple of months but then when the progress slowed down, I would give up.
This time, though, it was different. The Balance plan was so easy to follow — it was real, simple food. I didn’t have to go out and buy special products. It was just so doable. And my leader, Arlene, was fantastic — she was so supportive. After a couple of months, I was expecting to have to change tack — every time you fail, it really affects your confidence; but for some reason, this programme really stuck with me.
My children got a puppy around the same time I joined Unislim, so naturally I ended up walking the dog and looking after him. He’s a wee Cockapoo named Milo. He’s provided a great reason to get me out walking. We tend to give ourselves excuses for not doing something, like exercise or losing weight. But once I had the dog by my side I loved going out walking and now I walk with him all the time. He sits on my knee in the evenings as well, so that stops me from snacking after dinnertime!
I enjoy my food much more now. I feel better physically and mentally. I have finally got my head around the fact that I deserve to feel this good in myself.
Looking back now, I didn’t enjoy life before joining Unislim. I hated clothes shopping and always made up excuses to avoid doing certain things, whether it involved exercise or some sort of adventure — I would say I didn’t have time. In truth, I just didn’t have any confidence. Being overweight does knock your confidence without you realising it. My weight held me back from doing a lot of things — I know that now.
Today, there’s nothing I would say ‘no’ to. I’ve signed up to do yoga, Pilates… I feel younger, more energised and I look forward to trying new things, to the next adventure.
My advice to anyone thinking of joining Unislim would be to take the bull by the horns and go, and give it your all.
Stick with it because it is so worth it in the end.
Máiréad is one of the 12 finalists in Unislim’s inaugural Inspire awards to be held in Belfast’s Merchant Hotel on October 4.
Total weight loss: 9st Class leader: Arlene Carlisle Class attended: Newry