Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
WEIGH TO GO Eileen’s gone from being overweight to ‘Miss Slinky’ winner
When Eileen McGovern was preparing for daughter Katy’s First Holy Communion last year, she should have been thinking about one of the proudest days of her life.
Instead the Coatbridge mumof-two was left ft worrying about Katy being teased for having “a fat mummy” as her weight crept up to almost 17 stones. She is seen, inset, before her weight loss.
But Eileen, 42, has undergone a remarkable transformation f i that has resulted in her scooping several Slimming World awards for losing close to three stones in 12 months.
Eileen revealed: “I gave up smoking in August 2012 and the weight piled on. Anyone who tells you nicotine isn’t an appetite suppressant is a fibber!
“I replaced 20 cigarettes a day with six packets of crisps and a bag of sweets, and when I got sick of those, I moved onto crackers and cheese. The list of snacks was endless.
“I was a size 20. Over the years, I just put the fact I was buying bigger clothes to the back of my mind. On my 40th birthday, a family member took a really lovely photo of me and my niece, who was only a couple months old then, and I looked like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man ready to dwarf her!
“I decided to start my journey last January as my daughter Katy wa was making he her First Holy Co Communion in May and I di didn’t want he her being th the child wi with the fat m mummy.”
Eileen ad added: “At m my heaviest, Iw I was around 16 stone and 10 pounds. I h had db bought h a size i 18 d dress for the communion but it was tight on me and didn’t look right.
“It was then when I decided to join my local Slimming World group after one of the other mums suggested it.
“She knew the consultant and reassured me that Denise [McCormick] was really lovely and the perfect person to oversee my weight loss.
“I had bought a magazine with a discount voucher and was all set; but a hospital appointment for my eldest daughter took precedence over my joining that first week.
“I lost seven pounds during my first week in the house in preparation for Slimming World.
“When I went to my first meeting the room was busy and full of like-minded people; I was made to feel very welcome.
“From then on I have attended the group every week and haven’t even used one of my holiday allowances.”
Eileen has never looked back since joining Slimming World – and her dedication and hard work have been handsomely rewarded at the group.
She explained: “Over the past year, I have gained my two-anda-half stone award, finished as runner-up in the woman of the year competition and won Miss Slinky!
“It has been brilliant to do so well and be recognised by my peers; last summer Denise had enough faith in me to ask me to be a volunteer on her social team.
“I am now on her check-in and pay desk at the group who meet on a Wednesday morning at Old Monkland church hall.
“This year, I’m intending to reach my target weight and then maintain it.”
Consultant Denise McCormick added: “Eileen was so nervous coming to group and when I was doing the new member talk, I could see her fear.
“But I then reassured her and she has never missed a week. She is a fabulous member of my social team and also helps me with my other groups.
“I wouldn’t know what I would do without all of Eileen’s help.”
For further details about the Slimming World groups run by Denise, give her a call on 07463 726375.
This year I’m intending to reach my target weight and then maintain it . . . It has been brilliant to do so well