Super slimmer Maureen has lost a person in weight!
MAUREEN McAulay is half the woman she was – and she’s very proud of it!
During the coronavirus lockdown she has lost almost 10 stone.
And she’s now an amazing seven dress sizes smaller.
Maureen, 57, from Llangan in the Vale of Glamorgan, has a neat way of summing up her weight loss.
“It’s a person, really, when you think about it,” she said, when comparing her 20st 9lb self at the start of 2020 with the 10st 13lb she is today.
Amazingly, Maureen has completed her weight loss in the 16 months of lockdown.
She joined Slimming World in January last year, after some encouragement from a neighbour.
Initially, she was nervous joining the group, but she was made to feel welcome by group leader Laura Hicks.
Maureen said: “Because I was really big I was embarrassed to go. But she (Laura) made me feel comfortable and it started from there.”
Maureen was conscious of the health implications of being overweight and she also wanted to be able to play with her grandchildren.
“It got to the stage where I felt people judged me when I was out, going out for meals or anything like that,” she said.
“Even just going into the shop, I used to think, ‘Oh people must think I’m terrible because I’m that big.’”
Maureen’s journey to lose the weight was made even more difficult by an overactive thyroid and two leg operations, making her immobile for weeks at a time.
“I was off my feet for quite a long time. I had a lump in my leg that had to be cut out,” Maureen recalled.
“I was off my feet I would say for about 12 weeks. And then I was off my feet again just before Christmas.”
But Maureen was determined to lose weight and received vital support from her family.
“My husband helped me cooking meals.”
Maureen found the eating habits easy to follow, changing from storebought jars to making her own sauces.
As with any weight loss journey, it was never completely straightforward.
“I did have good days, and I did have bad days,” Maureen admitted.
“But I was enjoying losing the weight and was getting encouragement from my family, Laura, and the group.”
Laura said: “This year has been exceptional and, for some, losing weight has not been their main focus. She has blown us all away.”
Maureen was able to cut out bad habits, such as eating white bread, having take-outs and snacking on biscuits, changes which have trickled down to her family’s meals.
“I did eat badly,” she admitted, but she now has the knowledge of how to enjoy meals while still being aware of what she eats.
Looking ahead to the easing of lockdown restrictions, Maureen said: “I’ve got a 16-year-old daughter and we’re so looking forward to going out shopping together.
“I’m so excited to go out for a bite to eat, and just feel comfortable enough. I’m happier again.”