Helen from Youghal had struggled with weight loss for decades. Despite trying countless diets, she found herself trapped in a cycle of yo-yo dieting, losing a few pounds only to gain them back again. But 13 months ago, everything changed when she joined Youghal Nutrition Club. Since then, Helen has not only lost 29kg in weight, but she’s kept it off. She is down 113cm from her body and has cleared over four litres of visceral fat from around her organs.
“My health is way better, my bloods are very good, my cholesterol is down to 4.5 – now it was never very high even though I was carrying weight – and my doctor is happy with me,” she says. “My energy levels are through the roof, and I’m sleeping way better. I’d be very busy because I care for my mother as well as working in a bar, so I have a lot on.”
Helen decided to reach out to Youghal Nutrition Club after her cousin, who was already a member, recommended it to her. “I texted Patrick at the club, but I didn’t actually go in for a month or two after he invited me,” she admits. “My head just wasn’t in the right place at the time. I wouldn’t say it was daunting, but I was definitely a bit nervous because I didn’t know what to expect.”
However, her worries dissolved once she walked through the door. “From the moment you step inside, it’s so relaxed and welcoming, it really does feel like a family,” says Helen. “With the support of Ann, Patrick, Christine, and everyone at the club, it’s been amazing. We’re all like a little family.”
Helen strongly recommends the club to others. “The advice is brilliant, and I’ve tried everything before this. I always tell people, it’s the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”
The mum-of-two and grandmother-of-two is enjoying better health, energy and sleep as a result of the weight loss. “Before I started on the weight-loss journey, I was going to physio for my knees,” she says. “I’ve stopped it completely now, I don’t need it any more. I began this journey last June, and within a couple of months, as the weight started to come off, I no longer needed physio.
“I have been yo-yoing for a long time, up and down for years,” she continues. “I was always a bit on the heavy side, I was never stick- thin, but after having kids, more crept up. I was losing a bit and it was back up again.
“My diet used to consist of tea and biscuits, morning, noon and night. It was quick and easy because I was always busy and was just grabbing whatever was at hand. Now, I start my day with a shake, aloe vera and tea. Later, I’ll have a protein shake or a snack bar, and then I have my dinner.
“When I first started, it actually felt like a lot of eating for me, so I asked if I could eat less and take more shakes. Instead of some of the meals, I opted to have a protein shake, which suits my lifestyle and they keep me full for ages. Dinner is usually salmon or chicken with vegetables or salad. I’d usually have two shakes a day plus my dinner, and a protein bar with a cup of tea.”
Helen’s family are delighted to see her doing so well. “My son is 33 and my daughter is 30, and they’ve both said they can see how much healthier and happier I am since losing the weight,” she says. “They both have babies, one is nine months old and the other is eight months. They’re crawling so it’s much easier to mind them now. I can jump up and get them if they’re stuck somewhere, and I just wouldn’t have been able to do that before.”
Helen’s mother is thrilled too. “She keeps saying, ‘You’ve lost enough now!’ But she’s proud of me. I’ve lost the equivalent of 29 bags of sugar and, when you think about trying to carry that around all day, especially in the pub where I’m constantly on my feet, it’s no wonder I feel better.”
Despite a busy lifestyle and working unsociable, late-night shifts, Helen says she doesn’t miss the old habits. “I’m still flat-out busy, but I don’t miss the biscuits even though I’m often working late at night,” she laughs.
She’s also enjoying the little things that many take for granted, like shopping for clothes.
“I don’t like anything too clingy on me, so I still wear a few of my old clothes, and people are killing me for it!” she smiles. “But it’s what I’m comfortable with. I have bought some though. The difference now is that I can find things to fit me. I never could before so I used to avoid shops. I’m not a big clothes shopper but now I enjoy just looking, even if I don’t always buy.”
The transformation hasn’t gone unnoticed by people who know Helen. “Some people have walked straight past me because they don’t recognise me! I’m proud of myself, even if I don’t really show it. I’ve tried so many things in the past that didn’t work for one reason or another, but this did.”
And what about her husband? “He’s been great,” says Helen. “He’s eating the healthier dinners with me, even though he’s the type that would eat whatever you put in front of him. He’s on the road a lot for work, so God only knows what he eats during the day, but he’s delighted for me.”
When Helen set out on her journey this time last year, did she ever envisage a result like this? “ I had no idea when I started out in June of last year that I would lose all of this weight,” she says. “I just kept going in the right direction and now I’m here. I have another bit to go and I’m going to keep at it.”
Youghal Nutrition Club’s mission is to empower communities to achieve optimal health and well-being through good nutrition, coaching and support. It creates vibrant spaces, both in person and online, where health thrives and personal growth is celebrated. Follow the club on Facebook here and Instagram here.
