Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Dream holiday was inspiration
Weight loss has opened doors
Sitting at her niece’s birthday party just months from jetting off on a once- in- alifetime trip around the world, Kelly- Ann McAteer should have been in fine fettle.
But the Coatbridge resident was so self-conscious about her weight – and what others would think of her figure – that she instead sat in the corner on her own pondering her future instead of joining the fun with her fellow party-goers.
Fast- forward several years, however, and not only has KellyAnn maintained the target weight she achieved a fortnight before going on her global travels, but has now launched her very own Slimming World group to help others who find themselves in a similar situation to herself.
Kelly-Ann said: “My experience at the party led to me taking steps that would change my life forever.
“I was desperate to have fun, but was scared that my weight would cause others to laugh at me, so I sat to the side taking comfort in the food I knew was causing the issue.
“I had booked a trip around the world already and was worried that the feeling I had at the birthday party would be how I would feel after the holiday.
“I chose to join my local Slimming World group as I had friends who had lost weight and gained so much confidence.
“When I first went along to group, I was so afraid of the judgement and humiliation if I couldn’t do it that I didn’t tell anyone.
“But as I sat in the car park outside, I remember seeing people laughing and having fun on the way in and I thought, ‘this is the place I need to be’.”
Kelly-Ann was “over the moon” to lose four pounds in her first week – and has never looked back since.
Two weeks before travelling on her worldwide adventure, Kelly-Ann reached her target weight, having shed three stones, six pounds in just six months.
She said: “I was delighted and everyone at the group was very chuffed for me too; so much so, each and every one of them signed a card wishing me well on my travels.
“To this day, I still have the card to reflect on my friends’ support and them encouraging me to achieve my dreams.”
With a career change in mind late last year, Kelly-Ann knew there was only one thing she wanted to do; help others “achieve their dreams”.
She opened her own Slimming World group earlier this month at Coatbridge Indoor Bowling Club and is a shining example of what hard work and dedication can accomplish.
Kelly-Ann said: “My life has totally changed now. I went on that trip and have done so many things I would never have done.
“I have managed to maintain my weight for 12 years and learned to trapeze.
“I’ve also modelled for my partner’s shoe design business at fashion shows; I know these are all things I would never have had the confidence to do without Slimming World.
“I want to help so many people achieve their dreams and I’m so excited to be part of each and every single one of their journeys.”
Kelly- Ann’s new group runs every Wednesday at 7.30pm and for further details, give her a call on 07920 327542.