Paul Leggett, 40, Lost 8 stone

If anyone told me that one phone call I made two and a half years ago would change my life forever I'd have thought they were mad. I initially joined Motivation knowing I had to shift 5 stone but I was very nervous and doubtful about trying another so called diet after years of struggling with my weight. I don’t think there was a diet on the market that I hadn’t tried.

I have 3 children and something triggered inside me that made me want to be around for my kids. At 38 years old I was on blood pressure tablets and it was time to wake up.

Motivation thought me that it wasn't a diet I needed, it was a lifestyle change. Once I had my mind made up to lose weight and get healthy the programme along with the very enthusiastic staff guided me on a week to week basis and made any necessary adjustments to my habits for me to reach and pass my goal weight loss of 7 stone. After only eight weeks my doctor took me off all my prescribed blood pressure tablets which I had been on for 3 years.

I read the book from cover to cover on several occasions and found it very useful. Even now, after this length of time I still put the CD on when I'm driving just to refresh myself on some of the different stages.

After reaching my first goal weight during the 20 week programme I decided to carry on for another 10 weeks and lost a further 2 stone. Now I'm off all my medication, I've recently turned 40 and feel years younger than I did before I found Motivation.

The maintenance is just a way of life now with no chance of ever going back to the bad habits. I have never felt so good, looked so good or been so satisfied with what I have achieved

I trained up as a Consultant in the Swords clinic where the rewards of passing on the knowledge to help others gave me the confidence to open my own new clinic in Ashbourne in January 2012.

 

Anne Thielemans, 4 stone

I felt uncomfortable with my body, I was always trying to hide my “curves” with clothes and I was short of breath. I enjoyed many things but I was not very proud of myself. I had to take pills for high blood pressure.

I had great difficulty sticking to diets and it was really hard to change my habits. I saw an ad in a magazine and I remember tearing the page with the information out with the intention to ring as soon as I could. I wanted to stop the medication for the high blood pressure and avoid the medical complications along with that. I also wanted to do it for my children and myself. It took me a few weeks before ringing the clinic but I did.

When I joined I was hoping I would learn to have a better control of my diet and my body. The word motivation made me think that I could find help to change my ways of thinking about food and to lose weight.

I quickly realised I had to change a few things in my diet. The instructions were very clear to follow, not too much counting. I liked the book; I still read it regularly, making new connections, having a better understanding of some of my behaviour towards food. I have learned to understand why I was eating too much and what to do to avoid it.

I was really encouraged to continue and keep motivated when I saw the result after the first week. It gave me the motivation to do more. The best thing about the programme was to finally understand better why I was reacting the way I was and think more about my feelings in relation to food. I liked, still like the books and the cds. I can refresh my memory regularly about the behaviour, feelings etc. I still refer to them now. I can use all the ideas not only for the weight loss, but also for other situations in life such as in my work and family.

My Consultant was really nice and positive. Also she had lived in Belgium and could understand better some of my reactions and thoughts. When you are on your own with the Consultant, you have the feeling that you are more important, better listened to. It is more personal. It is also more private. I am not always ready to tell my personal feelings to a group of people. Here you can discuss what you really want and not what other people want to. My Consultant has always been encouraging. I was really lucky to have her.

My big anxiety was to be able to maintain the weight once the goal was achieved. But I feel more confident now, with all the tools used to help me. Every time I listen to the cd’s, I can find a new connection with a situation in my life or I can see things in a different angle. There are some very good ways proposed to approach problems in life or to take distance with a problem and realise that they’re not really problems anymore. The handouts helped to keep me focused during the week as did the visualisation.

I lost 4 stone and I feel really great! I don’t have all these little pains and suffering I had before losing weight (swollen legs, back pain, heavy legs). I don’t have to take high blood pressure medication anymore, which is good as it means that I am in better health than before. I can move much more easily around the house, and in my work. I have a better choice of clothes and I wear fashionable clothes. This was an investment. I believe what I spend now to improve my health, I don’t have to spend later on medical expenses and I can enjoy a life in better condition for many more years.

 

Rachel Cassidy, 2 stone 3lbs

I started to gain weight after the birth of my twins in 2008. Within 12 months I had gained over 1 and a half stone. I was so unhappy with the extra weight that I was carrying. Nothing in my wardrobe fitted me and I felt unhappy about how I looked in my clothes and how I felt in myself. I lacked energy because I was eating the wrong foods. I hated shopping for new clothes or trying to find something to wear on a night out. Above all, I was frustrated with myself for getting to this point with my weight and everyday was a struggle.

I saw an ad for Motivation on TV over Christmas. So I decided to do some research on the internet and watched and read people’s stories. I felt I could relate to the girl on the advertisement – she was of similar height, age and had lost a similar amount of weight that I would want. I was drawn to their focus on maintaining the weight once your reach your desired weight. Not wanting to buy the next size up and seeking a happier me, I signed up.

I found the programme excellent from the booklets, handouts, techniques and the one to one consultations. My consultant was just great. She was so encouraging, supportive and easy to talk to and relate to. I could tell her how I was feeling and if I was having a bad day she would always have me leave our meeting feeling positive, energised and ready to succeed for another week. She would always have great ideas on what food to eat and tasty recipes. I got advice about planning for nights out and holidays. She helped me to make better choices about food in general. She really made me believe that I could succeed in getting to my goal weight.

I started to lose weight straight away. I was so excited that something was starting to work for me. I couldn’t believe that I was not hungry or craving the foods I used to crave. I felt satisfied with what I was eating and not at all deprived.

The best thing about the Motivation programme is that it works. My weight loss was constant. I felt satisfied with what I was eating. During the fat burning stage the protein supplements stopped me from snacking on the wrong food. The handouts were great to help me imagine myself at my desired weight and also help me think more positively.

I lost 2 stone 3 lbs and I feel brilliant. I feel confident about my food choices and happier with how I look in my clothes and feel about myself. I’m so happy that I have achieved this for me. I made a New Year’s resolution last year to lose weight (one resolution I probably used to make every year), and I can’t believe it but I have actually done it and maintained it for a number of months now without slipping back to old ways. I am a lot more positive which is great.

My advice to anyone wanting to lose weight is to imagine where you want to be, be positive in your thinking and stick with it.

For me Motivation is positive, life changing and worthwhile.

 

Therese Brennan, lost 2 stone 6lbs

My wonderful mother died in 2009 at the age of 94. Her family was her life and her loss was a cause of immense sadness to me. This sadness led me to indulge in my bad habits and ultimately to gain weight.

Five months ago, while not realising I weighed 12 stone 5 pounds, I decided I had to do something about my weight. All my clothes were too tight and I was losing confidence in myself. I wanted to look and feel better but my greatest concern was for my health. I really wanted to live a healthier life.

I have tried other slimming courses, with some success, but they always fell by the wayside eventually. In April of this year, I saw an interview with Rob Walpole on the Late Late Show. Rob had lost an unbelievable 23 stone with Motivation Weight Management Clinics.

I credit this interview with my transformation! I was a bit sceptical on my first visit, but on meeting my Consultant I had absolutely no qualms about the programme. Having filled in the Questionnaire (which, by the way, gave very positive feed-back), I sat and chatted to my Consultant. At the end of that first session I was hooked. I felt extremely positive. I signed up there and then for a full programme and I haven’t looked back since.

When I started to see the weight coming off, I felt wonderful and I was very proud of all that I was achieving. I read the books and listened to the cd’s and I found them really inspirational. They kept the mind focused and really do keep away negative thoughts. I knew I was going to succeed, because I had the determination, wonderful help and support and the visual image of myself at my desired weight.

I enjoyed seeing the results each week and seeing the proof that Motivation does work. My Consultant was my rock. She was so supportive and non-judgemental. I could talk openly to her and never feel embarrassed.

I have now lost 2 stone 6 lbs and I feel amazing. I’m full of life and energy. My confidence has soared because I now feel really good about myself. Family and friends have noticed a huge change and are delighted for me. I don’t think I would have succeeded without their help and encouragement and particularly the positive comments and helpful words of advice from my Consultant. The one-to-one consultations certainly are a wonderful way to go. I feel the group sessions (while good for some people), did not suit me as I was very conscious of the fact that everyone around you knows whether you had lost or gained weight on a week to week basis.

I really believe the team in Motivation genuinely care. They are there to help, motivate and encourage you every step of the way. The good news is I haven’t just lost weight but the inches have dropped off too. I think it’s time for a new wardrobe!

 

Imelda Smith, 27 years, lost 3 stone 5lbs

I always felt self-conscious about being overweight. I would take forever to get dressed and had to wear black clothes mostly a lot older for my age because most shops did not have a great selection of bigger sizes.

I was extremely unfit and would find I was out of breath after climbing the stairs. I found it very hard to keep up with my daughter which was very upsetting. In the Summer I would usually wait inside because I would not wear shorts or a tee shirt which meant I would be far too hot in my Jeans and Jacket.

I hated when on holidays, my daughter wanted me to go swimming and I couldn’t because I was far too self conscious to wear a swim suit. My body image was a huge problem.

I never liked to be in photos and avoided a camera like the plague. It is now sad looking back and realising I have hardly any pictures of me and my daughter Emma from her earlier years because I would not let people take pictures. I felt huge and unhappy.

I had enough of hiding and being unhappy I really wanted to lose the weight but also to maintain the weight loss. I heard about Motivation for the first time on television. There was an advertisement about the clinic on TV3. I immediately went on to the website to find out more and where my nearest clinic was.

I liked the way Motivation not only concentrated on your weight loss but also the habits and behaviours that were causing the weight gain. Working on the behavioural side of eating was the best part of the programme for me. And the tools used helped me change my life for the better.

The Books and CD’s were hugely helpful to me as I found that Dr Larocque’s case studies inspirational. I could identify with the stories and it was nice to know I was not the only one that had low self-confidence and was struggling with a weight problem.

I have lost 3 Stone and 5 lbs and my life has changed so much. I have gone from someone who was out of breath after climbing a flight of stairs to someone who can run 5 Kilometres or more. I took part in the 10k Women’s Mini Marathon in Castlebar; I have run with Ray for 5K and have climbed Croagh Patrick. I would never have thought these activities were possible this time last year. The Programme made me feel very positive and that anything was possible if I wanted it badly enough.

I can now go swimming on holiday with my daughter and I have the energy to play with her a lot more. I can also wear dresses with ease and it takes less time to get ready when I am going out which my husband says is a major bonus. It’s not a dream anymore I can now go in to any shop and buy the clothes I like. I don’t even have to fight my way to the large sizes at the back of the rails!!

 

Joanne Dowling, lost 4 stone 11lbs

“I’ve always been unhappy with my weight. Ever since I can remember I always felt like an outsider. I stopped going out socially because I hated seeing myself in the mirror. I hated going shopping because I could never fit into any nice clothes. I just felt terrible in every sense.

When I saw an advertisement on the television for Motivation it was the last straw. I decided to ring the number and before I knew it I was booked in for my assessment and then my first consultation.

I was both nervous and excited at the thought of losing weight but at the back of my mind I wondered would it work.

I was shocked to see that I could eat lots of food whereas before I started I was eating less but all the wrong foods. Within a couple of weeks I noticed a major change in my attitude towards food. I haven’t looked back since I started the programme. I’m a new person now, much happier, I feel great and most of all I have been maintaining my weight for several months now".

 

Tara McEniff, lost 3 stone

"Before I started the programme I had tried other diets and eating plans but after a slip I would give up and feel guilty for not sticking to my plan or diet. The Programme has helped me in so many ways. Not only has it helped me to look better, feel younger and get my confidence back but it has also re-programmed my attitude to food. The cd helped to educate me as to why I craved sweet foods and how to stop it. The book was a huge help to me as it made me realise it would take some time to reach my ideal weight, afterall it took some time for me to gain the weight in the first place! Motivation stopped me feeling like I was standing at the bottom of a mountain looking up at my goal, it allowed me to feel relaxed knowing I would get there eventually if I just kept chipping away, pound by pound, each week.

The handouts were very important and helped me to visualise how I would look.

If anyone is reading this and is apprehensive or nervous like I was, just throw caution to the wind - what harm is there in trying. If I can do it, anyone can. You are going to look at feel great. Good luck!"

Alison Matthews , lost 2.5 stone

I had pretty much ignored my weight accumulating as the years went by and I felt hopeless to stop what I thought was just the way I was. From a health perspective, it was becoming increasingly difficult to carry the excess weight. I’m an avid shopper so it was upsetting when I bought clothes that were fashionable but were not always suitable for my size at that time. I felt if I didn’t act to change my weight then it would become a health issue as time went by but I didn’t know how to start the process.

I did some research on the internet and found Motivation. From the start the behavioural aspect of the programme really interested me. I felt most of my issues with food came from my emotions and how I was feeling at a particular time.

When I joined Motivation I wanted to feel less pressure on my body. I wanted to lose some excess weight but didn’t realize at the time how much I would change when I did lose it.

I found the programme daunting at the first session. My main food staple would have been carbs and to be honest from lack of awareness, I didn’t know what the food I was eating was actually doing to my body. Once I got started I couldn’t believe how much I could eat on the programme. I was eating more than I would normally only this time it was the correct nutritional composition and the most striking thing about it was, I never felt hungry. As a snacker, I found the protein supplements excellent and they helped me through the hard times!

My consultant was excellent and extremely supportive. I firmly believe without her help I could not have achieved the success I have. At my visit each week, she provided me with a safe environment to discuss my deepest issues about my weight and instilled the confidence in me to succeed. If I was having a particularly bad week (and its ok to have one!), I could tell her honestly how I felt. On leaving the clinic, I would always have a set of goals and a more positive approach to the coming week.

I was initially surprised that I was actually losing weight, how steady it was and how it easy it became. In the early weeks I thought this is going to change and I’ll put the weight back on but as time went by my weight continued to drop. People started noticing it and complimenting me and I was amazed at my transformation more importantly how I felt inside as well as my physical appearance.

I lost 2 and a half stone and I feel lighter, happier, healthier, free....like I can achieve anything now.

My family is absolutely delighted for me and they can’t believe the change in me – from talking about losing weight for so long to actually doing it!!!I am happier and healthier than I have been in years and I feel in control of the main issue in my life which was my weight.

For me Motivation was an incredible journey culminating in a new, improved me! I can no longer recognise the overweight person I was three years ago.

 

Robert , lost 23 stone

I was always the biggest guy in the class, bigger than the rest of the lads. I always played football but as the biggest guy I was always put in goal!

We went to see Thin Lizzy in the Stadium when I was 14/15, it was my first gig. I wore a badge I had bought at the concert into school the next day and I was feeling really good. We were late for a class and the teacher looked at the badge which was just Thin Lizzy logo in a mirror effect and said “that will never be you”.

I lost a lot of weight at the age of 14/16. I discovered going out, girls, listening to music and drinking. I was tall and quite normal at 17 / 18 years but I was eating badly.I was going all day with only an apple and a Ryvita with a slice of cheese. I was not looking at what I was eating or why I was eating. I was worried about putting on weight.

From then on I yo-yo up and down in weight. But not small amounts. I would lose 8 stone, put on 10 stone. I was binging on food and drink - always conscious of my weight, always on a diet. Then I would eat badly, at the wrong times and the wrong foods and drink.

I was always conscious of what I was weighing even if I didn’t want to know the answer and I always took it badly when anyone commented on my weight. After living in the UK for a few years with my wife and daughter we moved home to Ireland in May 1998. In December my wife Caroline suffered a brain aneurism and died, we buried her the day before Christmas Eve. I was then faced with bringing up my 11 year old daughter, Rachel on my own. I wanted to be around for her for the long term.

I heard Dr. Larocque on Matt Cooper’s show talking about the fact that he treats the person not the obesity. His line “it’s not what you eat but why you eat” struck a chord with me so I called Motivation.I joined Motivation and attended their Sandyford clinic on 20th January 2010, weighing 36 stone 4 lbs.

I remember feeling shocked at my weight. My bathroom scales only went to 18 stone so I had been guessing what I was. I had no idea I weighed that much. At the same time, I also remember thinking that it was the start of a new beginning, the start of a new life.

When I started losing the weight I felt like a new person. I had energy and was able to start living a normal life. The entire programme was amazing and all of the Consultants are great. I am a new person. I have energy, vitality and a new desire for life and living. I love exercising now and go to the gym regularly along with walking and using my ab trainer at home. My family and friends are all so proud of me and have willed me to succeed, supporting me through-out the program.

What price can you put on your health and happiness? I am 49 years old with a metabolic age of 34, do I need to say any more!

 

Paula Grant, lost 3.5 stone

On 25th February 2010, I had my first appointment with Motivation Weight Management. I was 12 stone and 3 pounds. Little did I know how much my life was going to change for the better.

I had previously seen advertisements in the local newspapers but never realised I had the strength to lose weight like those other people had. The reason I finally rang the Clinic was because I was at an all-time low in my life; I hated myself with a vengeance, my clothes didn't fit (I was a size 16/18) and I was also off sick from work with a slipped disc which was extremely painful. I had to face up to the fact that I needed to lose weight for my own mental wellbeing.

Initially, at the start of the programme I was frightened I would fail but with the guidance from my consultant and by religiously listening to the cds and reading the books, I discovered how much mental strength I had and have. For me the beginning of this programme was being handed a key to unlock my mind to believe in myself.

I am now a size 8/10 and I weigh 8 stone and 10 pounds - I have shed an amazing 3.5 stone. I am now the person I always wanted to be - thin and happy.

To sum up the last 20 weeks ... I have been reborn.

Leagh Powell, lost 3 stone 7 lbs

I wasn’t happy with myself. I had always been over weight, I never knew what slim felt like. I always ate what I thought was a healthy diet, but now I realise my eating habits and binges where being run by guilt and stress. I started reading the books and talking to Ann, my consultant, and I began to realise I'm much more useful and productive as a healthy, happy person. Not feeling guilty about just this aspect in my life, has flowed to the rest and now I stress a lot less

Aoife Murphy, lost 10 stone

I was overweight for all of my teenage years, something I became used to. I accepted that I was fat and after trying numerous diet plans, I thought I couldn’t change. Attending an all girls school meant that every day you were judged on your appearance, I hated it and it made me feel really down.

Alasdair Sutton, lost 1.5 stone

For me, what I got out of Motivation was the discipline of being able to sit there and being able to understand how the mind works and then transfer that into actually losing the weight. I was fortunate enough to lose the weight fairly quickly. I’m on the Maintenance Programme now.

Catherine McIntyre, lost 2 stone

I liked the fact that you had to go once a week to visit somebody, it really encouraged me and my consultant had me understand why I would want certain things that maybe weren’t too good for me. I felt I had a great rapport with my consultant and that really kept me going.

Ciara Lonigan, lost 6 stone, 7lbs

The best thing about Motivation Programme is that you get someone to support you. Its one-on-one support and you can see the same person every week about what is going on, whether it’s been a ‘good week’ or a ‘bad week’. It encourages you to be honest with yourself.

Denise Martin, lost 5 stone

I felt very depressed. I had a weight problem for a number of years that had gone from bad to worse and everything I tried failed – pills, shakes etc. My Consultant was excellent and the CD’s and books helped me to understand why I was overeating and showed me how to approach and deal with my eating.

Stuart Barbour, lost 4 stone

The best thing about Motivation is that it helps you to understand what you are eating and why you are eating it. The programme made me feel a lot more confident and I actually enjoy going shopping for clothes now! I’m alot healthier, a lot fitter and more active.

Paddy O’Donoghue, lost 8 stone

The Motivation programme has helped to keep me focused on my goal of getting healthy and losing weight. I never dreamt I'd lose so much weight in such a short space of time and wouldn't have done so without this programme. The consultants were very helpful and made me believe in myself.

Eleanor Kennedy, lost 5 stone

I have always been overweight but having had 3 children I had reached an all time high. I had read about Motivation and decided to give it a try. From the very first day it really clicked for me. I found the Book and CDs a really useful resource.