I am so proud of myself and of what I have achieved – Julie Fitzpatrick

Hitting the scales at 30 stone, Julie Fitzpatrick has lost a phenomenal 17 stone and smashed it. Now nothing’s gonna break her super-fit stride.

Throughout my life I have always been overweight and have tried every diet under the sun. I would set myself a goal for a wedding or Christmas, but as soon as the event was over the weight would go back on. In 2009 I lost seven stone, but put 10 stone on the following year, that’s the way I was, up and down over the years. 

In 2015 I lost my dad who I was very close to suddenly and within three months I put on a further three stone. I was eating through my grief and pretty soon I realised that I was a heart attack waiting to happen. 

My health was deteriorating, and I knew if I didn’t do something about my weight I wouldn’t be around for much longer.  It came to a stage that even walking across the room had me out of breath.  

It was in January 2016 I made the decision that it was time to make a change. I walked into my local Unislim class in Portlaoise and got a big shock when I stepped on the scales and saw my weight, but I knew my leader Breda would support me every step of the way.    

Straight away the Unislim plan made sense to me, it was all about eating real food. I started cooking for myself and focused on eating enough – I learned that you must eat more to lose weight, just eat the right food.  I eat three meals and two healthy snacks every day – I am never hungry and I don’t deprive myself of anything. I am in control of food now whereas before the food was controlling me.  

Exercise was my stumbling block, but I knew I had to start somewhere. I began walking around a tennis court near my home. At the start, 12 minutes was my limit but now, just two years later I’m walking up to 60K each week and I also love going to Zumba and have started training for a Couch to 5K. I’m fitter than I have ever been! 

The weight really moved fast for me – in fact I lost 10 stone in only a year. But then things started to slow down, so I had to up the ante and really focus.  I set myself mini goals and challenges and worked towards them month by month – it helped me get my mojo back and keep losing weight.  I believed in myself and I was not giving up.  My belief is that good eating and good exercise will always stand to you – so I had to just keep going.  

 My confidence and energy levels have absolutely soared since joining Unislim. It’s just amazing!

I love my clothes and I love my style. I used to cover up before – but now I can wear what I like and feel great.  

I can even walk across the swimming pool in my swimsuit and not care who’s looking at me – that’s the level of confidence I now have. I’m a lot happier, a lot healthier.  

People always said I was the life and soul of the party but nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors, my weight was bothering me. I always wished I could do something about it and now I have.  

 I am so proud of myself and of what I have achieved. It’s only since I reached 17 stone weight loss that I’ve said to myself ‘You know, I am pretty damn awesome’.  

Unislim has forever changed my life.  

And though I am still on my weight loss adventure, I know my Dad is looking down at me smiling and saying “I so proud of you”.