Marie loses more than three stone, and gives up smoking too

It is possible to stop smoking and lose weight, study reveals

A Mullingar lady is celebrating after she lost 3 stone 5Ib and gave up smoking too!

Marie Gormley’s inspirational story backs up research* showing that gaining weight is not inevitable when you stop smoking. The study, led by Professor Deborah Lycett from Coventry University’s Centre for Intelligent Healthcare and published in BMJ Open, shows it is even possible with support for quitters to lose weight while they abstain.

Marie was starting to experience health issues because she had gradually put on weight.

Marie was a smoker and potentially at risk of developing serious conditions such as obesity, mobility issues and heart problems.

She was breathless after any physical exertion, which was affecting the activities she enjoyed.

Marie was advised by her GP to try to lose weight and to stop smoking to improve her health and fitness.

Marie joined Slimming World in 2017 and attended on a weekly basis.

She has made a lot of new friends at Slimming World and is a popular member of her group.

She has enjoyed choosing meals to cook from her Slimming World book, from stir-fries and curries to a variety of pasta dishes.

When shopping, she looks for healthier options, checks labels and compares products, which has helped her understand how simple changes can make a huge difference.

Marie now feels more confident, and enjoys dressing up and looking well.

Marie has not always found it easy and if she was ever struggling, she would take herself to a clothes shop and look at all the lovely styles she can now buy and remind herself how far she has come.

“I’m so proud of everything that I have achieved from healthy eating and I now walk daily and I took part in the Green Mile initiative to pick up litter in our neighbourhood,” she said.

“I feel like a different person now. I am a non-smoker and I have managed to maintain my weight loss. Life is great and I’m looking forward to what the future brings.”

Liz, who runs the Castlepollard Slimming World group, said: “Looking after ourselves and our health is more important than ever right now and the changes Marie has made are incredible.

“I hope her success and the findings of the study, which shows weight gain isn’t an inevitable consequence of quitting, will inspire other people in Castlepollard who’d like to stop smoking and manage their weight.

“There is nothing like being part of a group who understand your challenges. I know making healthy changes and breaking habits isn’t easy to do alone and in our Slimming World group, we support members to make behaviour changes by using simple but effective techniques such as ‘for and against’ lists and motivational interviewing.

“It’s incredible to think how quickly you can turn your life around – just think, if you start today, you too could feel like a completely new person just like Marie.”

Slimming World launched virtual groups during the pandemic, and are now getting ready to rebuild their in-person weekly community groups.

Castlepollard Slimming World meetings are at the parish hall on Mondays; for enquires and joining offers call or text Liz on 087 953 4254.

* Referral to Slimming World in UK Stop Smoking Services (SWISSS) versus stop smoking support alone on body weight in quitters: results of a randomised controlled trial BMJ Open Access Research Paper