Up to the end of November 2015 super slimmers in Co. Leitrim lost a whopping 13958lbs that’s 997 stone in weight – the equivalent of 3 cars, 9 adult male Polar Bears or 90 adult females!

Altogether the members of the Drumshanbo, Ballinamore, Manorhamilton, Carrick-on-Shannon and Mohill Slimming World groups are now 6.33 tonnes lighter than they were at the beginning of 2015.

The members, who attend the groups every week, follow Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan by expert nutritionists, which encourages them to fill up on satisfying foods such as pasta, rice, potatoes, lean meat and fish, pulses and fruit and veg.

Drumshanbo member Christa Michel has lost 3st 6lbs to drop from size 18/20 to 12/14. She says, "Filling up on lots of satisfying foods means you’re never hungry so I’ve never felt as though I was on a diet.

“Every week we support and encourage each other and share tips and recipes, and on top of that we have a lot of fun.

"The support and inspiration we get from our consultants has also been integral to our success.

“Because they have lost 14 stone between them, they understand the ups and downs of slimming and can offer us help and advice based on their own experience."

There are so many overweight and obese people in Leitrim and the consultants agree that they just want to help even more people to make real changes for life – there’s no better job satisfaction than that!

For more information or to join please contact your local consultant or come along to one the groups.

Melanie Johnson, The Mayflower Community Centre, Drumshanbo 087 2390065 every Monday at 5.30 & 7.30pm and The Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon every Wednesday at 5.30pm & 7.30pm.

Ciara Dolan, Scouts Den, Balllinamore 087 7685093 every Tuesday at 5.30pm & 7.30pm and Canon Donohue Memorial Hall, Mohill every Thursday at 7.30pm

Sheila McGroary, McManus Bee Park Resource Centre, Manorhamilton 087 7534974 every Wednesday at 5.30 & 7.30pm.