Name: Bernie Keane
From: Galway
Was: 16 stone 12 ½ pounds
Now: 10 stone 9 pounds
Lost: 6 stone 3 ½ pounds
Class: Gort, Co Galway
Leader: Catherine Ryan
“I had been overweight for most of my life and at my heaviest I had been over 18 stone. I had tried various things to lose it, but it all just went back on. Then in the summer of 2012 we went on holiday and when we got back and I saw the photos I knew I had to do something; seeing those pictures gave me a real kick up the bum with regards to how I had been feeling about myself.
“I have a 12-year-old daughter, Shannon, and I didn’t want her feeling embarrassed over the size of her mother. As well as that, I really wanted to do a skydive before I turned 40, but as there is a weight restriction, I couldn’t do it until I slimmed down.
“Even though I had tried to lose weight before, my attitude this time was different – it was like something just clicked. I was more focused on what I was doing, plus I felt like this wasn’t going to be just a diet, I was changing my entire lifestyle.
“Tracking was, without a doubt, the biggest help for me. Writing everything down made me realise that I had been eating a lot for the sake of it, and it helped me to figure out where I was going wrong.
“My portion sizes had been way too big and I ate far too much bread, pasta, and that kind of thing. When I started ProPointing and realised what was actually in the food that I was eating, it was a big shock and it helped me to make more sensible choices. For example, one day my husband and daughter were eating a burger and I calculated that the meat alone had nine ProPoints in it. I can make a delicious prawn stir-fry for just two ProPoints, so it really puts things in perspective.
“I started introducing a lot more vegetables into my diet and became more adventurous with my meals, cooking wholesome, tasty things from scratch. This spilled out into the whole household, which has been good for everybody in the family. I also started to go to the gym around five times a week. I remember my dad asking me when I was going to stop going to the gym, and I told him that I wasn’t going to because it’s my way of life now.
“I was always a positive person, but losing weight has helped me to gain a lot more confidence. Buying clothes is great as I can finally go into any shop and buy what I actually like rather than something that will just hide me.
“Simple things are so much easier. I can go swimming with my daughter and bounce on the trampoline with her. Best of all, I love getting out and trying new things, like doing the zip-wire at Tayto Park and even zorbing with my family.
“And yes, I did my skydive. It was scary but brilliant and definitely something I would do again. I’m full of life and so much happier. I’m always on the lookout for my next adventure.”
Bernie’s tips for success
As I said, tracking was the number one thing for me. You can’t go wrong if you have it all written down.Set little goals for yourself, maybe to lose a certain amount of weight for a specific event or date. My leader, Catherine, is great for this – setting up something like a five pound challenge in the class. Little things like that help you to keep your focus.About Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers’ approach has been developed based on scientific research, proven methods, and long experience.
A combination of healthy eating, physical activity, and small changes in behaviour, along with regular group support and motivation, forms the basis of the programme to help members not only lose weight, but keep it off. Weight Watchers classes are held across Ireland.
For more details on venues countrywide as well as information on the Weight Watchers programme, visit www.weightwatchers.ie.
Name: Bernie Keane
From: Galway
Was: 16 stone 12 ½ pounds
Now: 10 stone 9 pounds
Lost: 6 stone 3 ½ pounds
Class: Gort, Co Galway
Leader: Catherine Ryan
“I had been overweight for most of my life and at my heaviest I had been over 18 stone. I had tried various things to lose it, but it all just went back on. Then in the summer of 2012 we went on holiday and when we got back and I saw the photos I knew I had to do something; seeing those pictures gave me a real kick up the bum with regards to how I had been feeling about myself.
“I have a 12-year-old daughter, Shannon, and I didn’t want her feeling embarrassed over the size of her mother. As well as that, I really wanted to do a skydive before I turned 40, but as there is a weight restriction, I couldn’t do it until I slimmed down.
“Even though I had tried to lose weight before, my attitude this time was different – it was like something just clicked. I was more focused on what I was doing, plus I felt like this wasn’t going to be just a diet, I was changing my entire lifestyle.
“Tracking was, without a doubt, the biggest help for me. Writing everything down made me realise that I had been eating a lot for the sake of it, and it helped me to figure out where I was going wrong.
“My portion sizes had been way too big and I ate far too much bread, pasta, and that kind of thing. When I started ProPointing and realised what was actually in the food that I was eating, it was a big shock and it helped me to make more sensible choices. For example, one day my husband and daughter were eating a burger and I calculated that the meat alone had nine ProPoints in it. I can make a delicious prawn stir-fry for just two ProPoints, so it really puts things in perspective.
“I started introducing a lot more vegetables into my diet and became more adventurous with my meals, cooking wholesome, tasty things from scratch. This spilled out into the whole household, which has been good for everybody in the family. I also started to go to the gym around five times a week. I remember my dad asking me when I was going to stop going to the gym, and I told him that I wasn’t going to because it’s my way of life now.
“I was always a positive person, but losing weight has helped me to gain a lot more confidence. Buying clothes is great as I can finally go into any shop and buy what I actually like rather than something that will just hide me.
“Simple things are so much easier. I can go swimming with my daughter and bounce on the trampoline with her. Best of all, I love getting out and trying new things, like doing the zip-wire at Tayto Park and even zorbing with my family.
“And yes, I did my skydive. It was scary but brilliant and definitely something I would do again. I’m full of life and so much happier. I’m always on the lookout for my next adventure.”
Bernie’s tips for success
As I said, tracking was the number one thing for me. You can’t go wrong if you have it all written down.Set little goals for yourself, maybe to lose a certain amount of weight for a specific event or date. My leader, Catherine, is great for this – setting up something like a five pound challenge in the class. Little things like that help you to keep your focus.About Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers’ approach has been developed based on scientific research, proven methods, and long experience.
A combination of healthy eating, physical activity, and small changes in behaviour, along with regular group support and motivation, forms the basis of the programme to help members not only lose weight, but keep it off. Weight Watchers classes are held across Ireland.
For more details on venues countrywide as well as information on the Weight Watchers programme, visit www.weightwatchers.ie.
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