Ryan delighted to ditch ten stone in just one year

A STRABANE man who lost an incredible ten stone in just 53 weeks says he feels ‘fantastic’.

Ryan Quinn recently achieved his ideal weight after an incredible journey from his heaviest when the scales tipped 22 stone and nine pounds.

The music teacher explained, “I was always a big fella, even from a young age and as time went on, I always seemed to get bigger. Although I have always come across as a happy outgoing person issues with weight were always on my mind, I was constantly thinking ‘I’m huge’. It weighs you down both physically and mentally.

“I’ve tried all sorts of different diets in the past but none of them ever worked, I even tried an all-egg diet when at university which was no use at all. At best I would lose a couple of stone only to put it back on again, it was always a struggle.”

Ryan found his weight ballooning, especially during lockdown and at his heaviest, weighed over 22 stone. It was then he decided ‘enough is enough’ and found his way to Slimming World thanks to his friends.

He explained, “One night last September, a few friends came round to the house and one mentioned they were going to start Slimming World and invited me to come along. I did it with absolutely no expectations at all that it would work, but after a few weeks I began to get into it.”

Ryan found himself on a plan whereby he could eat good nutritious food without starving. It was low calorie rather than low quantity, and he soon began to see results. There were good weeks and bad weeks and Ryan admits that it wasn’t always an easy road, and it was sometimes difficult to gauge what a good week was. But he added, “The bad weeks were never as bad as a fad diet.”

Healthy eating is an essential part of losing weight, but Ryan says there are other factors to it, which he credits Slimming World with putting in place.

“It’s not just about the food when it comes to dieting. Two other factors are a good mindset that you want to do it, as well as a great support network. If you can find those, the job is made much easier. My support network at Slimming World encouraged me to look at food in a unique way, make better choices.” Although Ryan is on board with his new healthy living, he does admit to looking forward to his Tuesday night ‘cheat’ which is allowed as part of his plan.

Fast-forward 53 weeks and Ryan is down to his ideal weight and he is delighted. He explained, “I feel fantastic and so glad I began this journey.

“If anyone were to ask my advice on weight loss, I would say ‘join Slimming World, don’t do it alone and be positive’.”