Keeley shows off her new waist line in her old jeans.

Arva slimmer’s New Year’s resolution came true – for life!

Anyone thinking about slimming down this New Year will find incredible inspiration in an Arva woman who has lost 4st 13.5lbs in the past 12 months.

When Keeley made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight at the beginning of 2017 little did she know how successful she would be. Now, thanks to the support of her local Slimming World group in Arva, Keeley has lost almost five stone in just a year and feels fantastic.
The 32-year-old had struggled with her weight for years, since having her son. She tried to lose weight before but struggled as she’d be left feeling hungry and deprived, in fact she’d often end up regaining the weight she lost – and more – after she gave up. At her heaviest she weighed 15st 7lbs and had started to suffer from anxiety due to low self esteem and lack of self confidence.
Last January Keeley decided to do something about her size once and for all, and joined her local Slimming World group, which is run by Karen Murray every Wednesday at 7pm at The Memorial Hall.
“I was really nervous about walking into the group that first time,” recalls Keeley. “I figured there would be lots of new people joining the group as it was January and hoped I’d be able to blend into the background and not have to speak to anyone. Now I find it funny that I was so scared because I got such a warm welcome and I soon realised there was nothing to be worried about because we were all in the same boat – we all just wanted to lose weight. I honestly haven’t looked back since that day. I look forward to going to group every week now, it’s my ‘me’ time and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
She couldn’t believe it when Karen explained how Slimming World’s Food Optimising healthy eating plan worked and she discovered that she could eat lots of everyday foods without weighing and measuring, as well as still enjoying her favourite treats in moderation.
Keeley adds: “I was really dubious it would work for me at first and in my first week I thought ‘there was no way I’m going to lose weight eating all this’ as I hadn’t felt hungry or like I’d missed out at all, but I’d lost 8.5lbs. It’s not a diet, just a healthy way of eating that I know I can keep up for the rest of my life.”
After starting to slim down, Keeley felt confident enough to start being more active too. Now with a new addition to the family, puppy Bailey will help Keeley company on daily walks. She hasn’t only transformed Keeley on the outside, she feels like a new woman on the inside too. Her weight gain had caused her to suffer from back ache.
She says: “I might have lost almost 5 stone but I’ve gained so much more. I feel happier, healthier and have loads more confidence. I can’t believe the difference in me in just 12 months – and neither can my family and friends. I would recommend Slimming World to anyone who’s thinking about trying to lose weight this New Year, after all, if I can do it anyone can!”
Karen, who runs the Arva Slimming World group that Keeley attends, says she’s extremely proud of what Keeley has achieved over the past year.
She says: “Keeley is proof that if you make small, manageable changes the way you cook and eat and get the right support it is possible to make your New Year’s resolutions a reality.
“It makes me feel sad to think that so many people will embark on unhealthy, restrictive plans this January because I know that they won’t be able to keep them up for longer than a few days or weeks, so they’ll soon be right back where they started and feeling like a failure when actually it’s the programme they’ve chosen that’s failed them. I hope Keeley inspires people in Arva to choose Slimming World.”
To join the Arva Slimming World group simply pop along or call Karen on 087 9061 126.