Dan aims to share slimming success

DAN Ryan has come a long way from his childhood of
being overweight, bullied and humiliated.

Now with almost 2 ½ stone off in just 16 weeks, the
34-year-old wishes he had known aboout Slimming World and their healthy eating
plan in his youth!

Dan never really enjoyed the playground. Taunted at
school because of his size, he was clinically obese and often played truant
from subjects such as games and physical education.

Bullied and left out when the other kids were picking
teams, his confidence and self-esteem was destroyed. One year, whilst shopping
for his new school uniform, he was told by the school shop, that they had no
trousers in his 34

? waist size.

“I can remember that day so well, I was only 11 years
of age but can remember the feeling of embarrassment and shame when I was then
led away to the adult shop,

? he said.

At age 11, Dan was wearing his dad’s trousers. The

‘puppy fat’ never dispersed and remained throughout his school life until he
took up gymnastics and dance.

But soon as the physical activity ended, the weight
went back on. This continued into his later years where Dan found himself often
hiding away from the outside world and began eating when no-one else was around
to see, hiding the shame.

In October 2010, Dan discovered Slimming World, and
joined the Drumcondra group. He lost an amazing 8lbs in his first week.

“I took great delight in telling everyone I ate and
ate and was never hungry,

? he said.

“My success was down to the group sessions. It was
there where I got the best support from all the other members.

“I was even surprised at the Drumcondra group that
there were young adults aged between 11 to 16 as members and I was blown away
that Slimming World have a healthy eating plan designed especially for young
people.

“If only I would have known this 15 years ago, my life
would have been so different.

?

Dan went on to lose two stone six pounds in 16 weeks,
never depriving himself of his favourite meals such as, spaghetti bolognese,
burgers and chips and a big Sunday roast dinner, not to mention his all time
favourite a full Irish fry all of which he can eat unlimited amounts.

Dan now enjoys a more active life and feels like a
brand new person. Like other members of
Slimming World, he has now chosen to help others and has become a consultant of
his very own new group.

His new group opens in Glasnevin on Tuesday January
17, at St Kevin’s College, Ballygall Road East, Dublin 11 at 7.30pm.

“I want to help other people who feel how I have felt,
to realise their dreams, to have belief in themselves and to give them the best
support there is to succeed,

? he says.