One of Northern Ireland’s newest slimming groups is about to celebrate its first birthday, marking the occasion with members losing a staggering 1,000 stones!
‘We Slim Together’ was set up by mum-of-three Sonya McAllister and her son Dylan who both wanted to help people lose weight as they were, following their ‘guilt-free’ eating plan.
Starting from one session in Randalstown last April, Sonya found herself running eight weekly sessions across three locations, including Ballymena and Glengormley, within six months.
“It started off with the desire to inspire one person to change their life and to even help them lose half a stone,” Sonya said.
She added: “Little did I think it would change mine and my children’s lives as well as over 550 others.”
Members are travelling from as far away as Larne and Magherafelt to attend, and those who can’t make a group have joined with online membership, including people living in Scotland and England.
As the name suggests, ‘We Slim Together’ is a community, supporting each other through the group website and Facebook page where recipes and advice are shared on a daily basis.
“There’s no waiting a whole week until the next class as someone is always online to help,” Sonya said.
She added that many members are experiencing improved health and other benefits through shedding the pounds with some even being able to have medication reduced.
As she takes the healthy eating plan into its second year, Sonya intends opening in new locations as aspiring consultants, who have lost weight through ‘We Slim Together’, take on their own groups.
Members have also selected to raise funds for local charity Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke as their journey continues.
Sonya added: “I feel as if I am living a dream as so many lives have changed, including my own, in that first year.
“I will continue to live ‘this dream’ and hope to continue to inspire many others that they can change their lives for the better too.”
For more information about We Slim Together, visit www.weslimtogether.co.uk/