Eithne O’Farrell

I lost 5st

Starting Weight – 17st 6.5lbs Total weight loss – 5st 0.5lbs Current weight – 12st 6lbs Class Leader – Deirdre Hayes McCann Class —Kilorglin, Co. Kerry

FABULOUS Eithne O’Farrell has lost 5st and is enjoying her life to the full. She says: ‘I have always struggled with my weight. This peaked 15 years ago when I gained 6st in six months. Like many people, I made many attempts to address this, with varying levels of success, but always ended up back where I started or worse.

‘I joined Unislim in January 2015. I had success and gains and my weight fluctuated for the next 22 months. But in October 2016, a Unislimmer of The Year Finalist, Paul O’Mahony, visited our class and shared his story and that was my light bulb moment. I was sitting in a room full of people but it felt like he was talking directly to me.

‘We shared similar histories and our experiences with weight issues were so alike, it really resonated with me. From that night on I knew I was going to do it. I reached my goal for Christmas 2017, and it was the best present ever!

‘I’m now living my life fully and I have balance. I’m never hungry and eat such a broad range of foods. Learning to cook varied meals and my weekend batch-cooking sessions were a huge part of the road to my goal and continue to be part of my life.

‘Understanding how to eat well has had a huge knock-on effect on all aspects of my life — especially my confidence and appetite for life.

‘Since losing my weight so much has changed — it was the catalyst — where I live, my job, the people around me. Unislim is a part of my life and my anchor, no matter where I am. I love eating out, nights out and am always on the move and running around.

‘I’m a huge music lover. You will generally find me at a gig, or planning my next adventure. I have gained a whole new life.

‘I often say that before Unislim, my life was black and white, but now it’s technicolour.’