The Northern Ireland women who shed stones during lockdown

Not even lockdown stopped this young mum-of-three achieving her weight loss goal, as she shed one stone during lockdown to reach her final target weight - having lost an amazing 7st 1lb in total.

Amber, who lives in Holywood, Co Down, joined Slimming World in February 2019, attending her local group at Shorts Recreation Club, and up until the time of lockdown had lost an incredible 5st 11lbs.

But as coronavirus took hold and the country was faced with lockdown and the trials of home schooling and restricted shopping, Amber was worried her slimming journey would be jeopardized particularly as Slimming World groups had closed.

She said: “I’ve always struggled with my weight and would subconsciously starve myself when under stress which of course isn’t healthy. When lockdown happened I was genuinely concerned that my erratic eating would affect my weight because of the worry of what was going to happen.”

Amber had been enjoying the new benefits of her fantastic weight loss but felt that without the support of her group there was a real danger that old eating habits could easily come back during the worrying time of a worldwide pandemic.

Luckily she was able to carry on with the group experience on a virtual platform with the use of Zoom. She was able to meet up with her consultant and fellow group members online and receive the same support to help her continue on to success.

“Having the back-up of group and knowing that I would see everyone every Saturday really gave me focus and ideas on how to carry on. I loved knowing I had my friends to pick me up when I was feeling low and give me inspiration for the week ahead. They cheered me on each week and made this last bit of my journey even more special.”

With the research on how excess weight could seriously effect the recovery of people who contracted Covid-19 Amber was even more focused and determined to stay healthy and keep her weight under control.

A spokesperson for Slimming World said it has always focused on health issues linked to obesity such as “high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease to mention a few”, and added, ”helping members lose weight not only changes their lives but can actually save their lives.”

Amber added: “I just can’t wait to get back to real life group, to see my friends and feel the safety and comfort of being part of something that has truly changed my life and helped me become the best version of myself for not only me but my three beautiful children. I’m filled with new found energy and hope for brighter days for us all.”

Niamh Elliott is another slimming champion, having lost an amazing two stones since lockdown began.

The 52-year-old children’s nurse from Belfast, joined her local branch of WeightLiz just two weeks before Northern Ireland went into lockdown.

Niamh said: “I have yo-yo dieted for years, gained weight and lost it, and then over about the last year I have put on quite a considerable amount of weight. I have the beginning of an arthritic knee and I was in a lot of pain. I went to the GP and she said the only way I was going to get rid of the pain was by losing some weight. My dad is type 2 diabetic, so I thought I need to do something about this.”

Niamh joined WeightLiz at the start of March and “loved the group”.

“There’s no gimmicks, it’s just motivation and eating the right food and having support. When lockdown happened I thought I either just bin this and go back to what I’ve been doing or I stick at it. Then luckily enough Liz, who founded the group, put her business online and every week she would put up her motivational talks and cooking demos, so I was able to follow that.

“I don’t have scales at home, so I would weigh myself at work once a week and then send that into Liz. She has kept me motivated.”

Niamh worked through the pandemic, treating sick children at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald.

“I think in lockdown, in the uncertain times that we were all in, and probably still are in, losing weight gave me something to focus on.”

And she stuck to her healthy eating plan despite lots of temptation.

“When I was in work through all the actual lockdown, we were getting so many donations of food to the ward - doughnuts, pizzas, everything, but I had none of it. I stuck to my fruit.”

Niamh added she has received great support from her colleagues, who, seeing her great example, have now decided to lose weight themselves.

“Because they’ve decided to do it, that means I’ve got to stick at it,” she said.

Prior to joining the group, Niamh admits she “didn’t really think” about what she was eating.

“In the morning I used to have two slices of toast with butter and jam, whereas now I am having bran, fruit and yoghurt. I would eat a lot of eggs and omelettes and then in the evening, potatoes and chicken and veg or salmon or prawns - good food.

“I’ve cut out cheese, ice cream, cakes, desserts and puddings.

“Alcohol is my one treat. I would have gin and slimline tonic or a glass of prosecco. I think everyone needs a wee treat. I love crisps as well, but I now just eat chilli crackers, which are a quarter of the calories of an ordinary packet of crisps.”

Niamh said she lost the weight gradually.

“It was slow and steady. Some weeks I would lose nothing, then the next week I’d maybe have two pounds off. I would like to lose another stone and then maintain it. In the past I have lost weight, but put it back on again, but I think this time I have found a really good group, so I think I will maintain it.”

And Niamh said now she has lost weight and her ‘‘confidence is up” she is planning to do more exercise.

“I have a dog and walk a lot, but now I am thinking about doing a couch to 5k run.”

Niamh agrees with Boris Johnson’s obesity strategy which is urging people to lose weight to beat coronavirus and protect the NHS.

“Covid wasn’t the reason I tried to lose the weight, it was because I was getting knee pain and my GP basically said i was carrying too much weight, but

in general the healthier you are, the more you are going to be able to manage any sort of infection or disease.”

And in purely aesthetic terms, Niamh is loving her new slimline figure.

“I am fitting into my old clothes and have bought a few new dresses. It definitely does make you feel better. I am proud of myself that I have stuck with it.”

.