Maura McCabe: 30 Years of Unislim Success and Still Going Strong

For Maura, weight struggles began in childhood. She remembers vividly how much she disliked her Confirmation photos and how, from the age of 12, she became aware of her size. Like so many others, she fell into the pattern of dieting—starting strong every Monday, being “perfect” all week, only to give up by the weekend. This cycle repeated itself for years, always promising that this time would be different, yet always finding herself back at square one.

Her career in the airline industry only added to the challenge. Between work trips, business dinners, and hotel stays, she was constantly faced with the temptation of indulgence. Life was fast-paced, and food was often an afterthought—sometimes restrictive, sometimes excessive, but never truly balanced. She spent two decades gaining and losing the same stone, never quite reaching the place she wanted to be.

Then, in 1994, everything changed.

Breaking the Diet Cycle

That year, Maura decided she was done with the all-or-nothing approach. She stopped looking at food as a set of rules to follow and instead started thinking about how to create a lifestyle she could sustain. The weight came off slowly and steadily—20 pounds in nine months—but this time, it felt different. When she reached her goal weight in September 1994, she knew it wasn’t just a number on the scale. It was a shift in mindset. She had learned how to manage her relationship with food, how to enjoy life without losing control, and most importantly, how to maintain her results.

And maintain them she has—30 years later, she’s still at her goal weight.

Living a Balanced Life

Over the years, Maura’s approach has evolved. She no longer expects perfection from herself, knowing that some weeks will be better than others. She still loves her food, especially spicy dishes like curries and stir-fries, and she’s learned that preparation is key. She batch-cooks soups and one-pot meals to make life easier and always has go-to snacks on hand. Right now, it’s apple slices with peanut butter—a delicious way to manage her sweet tooth, which remains her biggest challenge.

She’s also learned to embrace movement in ways that feel good. She loves walking and yoga, enjoys cycling in the summer, and heads to the gym when the weather turns stormy. Exercise is about more than just weight management for her; it’s part of her routine for mental well-being, just like journaling and meditation.

Navigating Life’s Ups and Downs

Of course, maintaining weight loss for three decades doesn’t mean never slipping up. Maura still enjoys her weekends, including a few glasses of wine, and holidays are a time to relax and indulge. The difference now is that she no longer panics if she gains a few pounds. She simply resets—eating lighter, focusing on whole foods, drinking plenty of water, and getting back into her usual rhythm.

She’s also learned that weight maintenance isn’t about sticking to one exact number but rather a healthy range. She allows herself a buffer of five pounds, knowing that fluctuations are normal and don’t mean failure. This flexible mindset has been key to staying in control without feeling deprived.

The Joy of Helping Others

Today, Maura is not just someone who has kept her weight off—she’s someone who inspires others to do the same. Becoming a Unislim leader was a natural progression, and it’s a job she loves. Helping people transform their lives, the way she once did, is incredibly fulfilling. She sees herself in so many of her members—the struggles, the doubts, the years of trying and failing. And she knows firsthand that success is possible, no matter how many times you’ve started over.

She always tells people, “Unislim isn’t a quick fix. It’s about learning habits for life.” Most people only have two or three key habits they need to change, but those same habits keep tripping them up. Once they recognize what they are and learn to manage them, everything changes.

Why She Keeps Going

Even after 30 years, Maura still remembers the feeling of reaching her goal weight. She remembers what it was like to squeeze into clothes that didn’t fit, to feel uncomfortable in her own skin, to constantly think about food in a negative way. And she never wants to go back there.

She disagrees completely with the idea that maintaining weight loss becomes impossible as you get older. If anything, she believes it gets easier when you truly understand what works for you. It’s not about being perfect, but about staying aware, making small adjustments when needed, and remembering how good it feels to be in control.

A Message for Anyone Struggling

If there’s one thing Maura has learned in her journey, it’s that mindset is everything. She urges anyone on the fence about joining Unislim to ask themselves, “Why do I want this?” Because once your reason is strong enough, you’ll find a way to make it work.

She’s proof that weight loss isn’t just about losing—it’s about learning, adapting, and building a lifestyle that lasts. And if she can do it, anyone can. You can join Maura’s classes by clicking here. Maura also runs an online class every Thursday, click here for details