Gloria Pense from Wicklow had issues with her weight since her early teenage years.
“My body was changing and I didn’t like it. From that time on I became a comfort eater and would eat to make myself feel better.”
As a result, she began to put on weight and struggled with it her whole life.
She was always conscious that she was the heaviest of all her friends and spent most of her late teens and twenties yoyo dieting.
“After I had my second daughter I was the heaviest I had ever been and felt very low in myself. I was in a bad place, comfort eating at night when everyone else was in bed. I would wake up the next morning feeling guilty and ashamed but repeat the same cycle again that night.”
She spent the whole summer covered up in baggy hoodies as she was too self-conscious to wear summer clothes and wanted to hide her body away. She wanted to make changes in her life and when the time was right she always knew she would go back to Slimming World.
“I had tried it twice before but the timing was never right and I put too much pressure on myself to lose weight quickly so I always gave up. This time I was in no rush as I knew I was going to lose the weight for good no matter how long it took. I was determined.”
Once Gloria decided she was ready to join, she told her sister and she decided to come along and give it a go.
“The group was such a fun and enjoyable night and the consultant and other members were so warm and welcoming.”
She had forgotten quite how generous the Slimming World plan was and it was amazing to be reminded of it all over again.
“My first week I gave it my all and lost 6lbs! I couldn’t believe it. I was eating such a huge variety food and never felt hungry.”
Gloria loves cooking so it was great that she could still make all her family favorites and she really enjoyed sharing ideas and getting support and encouragement from her fellow members along the way.
“My absolute favorite meals have become chicken curry, taco fries and roast dinners.
“It was fantastic that I could still enjoy my few treats as well, like chocolate or crisps. What I love most about slimming world is that it fits in with my life, I can still meet a friend for a cappuccino and a catch up, enjoy meals out or have a glass of wine at the end of the day with my husband.”
Gloria has lost nearly 2.5 stone and couldn’t feel better.
“I have broken the negative cycle of binge eating, I enjoy shopping and getting ready to go out instead of dreading what the panic of what to wear and I have recently taken up jogging which I could never have imagined myself doing! I enjoy my life now too much to ever go back to the way I was.”
Gloria feels so passionately about Slimming World that when the opportunity came up to become a Slimming World consultant she felt sure it was the right opportunity for her.
She is so excited and can’t wait to support her very own members every Wednesday morning at 9.30am and 11.30am in the Grand Hotel in Wicklow.
Meet the rest of the team
Gráinne is a busy mum to two boys. She is passionate about food and love that she has lost weight while eating real food.
Gráinne’s groups take place in the Grand Hotel Wicklow Town every week on Tuesdays at 5:30 & 7:30 pm, Wednesdays at 5:30 & 7:30 pm and Thursday mornings at 8am & 10am. Facebook: grainneswwicklow. Instagram: grainneswwicklow. Twitter: @swgrainne. 0871470704.
Sarah is a bookworm and a foodie, with 2 soccer mad boys. Her favorite Slimming World meal is the ultimate Fakeaway: salt and chili chicken with Slimming World chips! Perfect Friday evening food, with a cheeky glass of wine, all part of the amazing Extra Easy plan!
Sarah’s group is in Arklow, on level 2 of the Bridgewater centre, every Tuesday at 5:30 and 7:30 pm. Facebook : Sarah Keene. Instagram: Sarah SlimmingWorld. Call or text: 083 2503623
Leona is married with 2 kids. Her absolute favorite slimming world meal to cook is chicken tikka with chips and rice.
Her group is in Tinahely community hall every Monday at 5.30 & 7.30pm. You can get in touch on 083 8168720 or looking for Losing With Leona on Facebook or Instagram.
Tamsin is a busy mum of 3 with a family that is always on the go. She loves spicy foods like curries and taco fries with gooey cheese. It’s meals like that that helped her lose over 4 stone and the amazing support in her group has helped her keep it off! She tried everything to lose weight before but nothing worked, until she joined Slimming World. She found herself again and is now living her life.
She is in Aughrim in Lawless’s Hotel every Thursday evening at 7:30, contact her on
Sinead has been a Slimming World consultant for 6 years. Some of her favourite Slimming World meals are pulled pork and a tasty burger and chips.
Her members have lots of ideas to share so come along to the group in Blessington on Wednesday at 5:30pm and 7:30pm in the Further Education Centre. If you have any questions, get in touch: 085 1224626.
Penny Roche lives in Bray with hubby Matthew and 3 daughters. Their favourite Slimming World meals would definitely include a stack of porridge pancakes topped with berries, fat-free yoghurt & butterscotch sauce for breakfast and later a Slimming World burger with onion relish & chips for dinner!
Penny’s groups are in Greystones, every Tuesday evening at 5:30 and 7:30 pm and Wednesday mornings at 9:30 and 11:30, in the Eire Og GAA Clubhouse. Contact her on 087-70938841 and on Facebook: Penny SW Roche
Clare has been a consultant for almost a year and is loving it! She is passionate about following her GAA team and is the queen of shoes! Her absolute favourite Slimming World dish is chicken risotto, easy and delicious.
Clare is in Arklow every Wednesday evening at 5:30 and 7:30 pm, in the Bridgewater Centre, level 2. Contact Clare on 087-1722536.
Lorraine has been a consultant for six and half years. She loves food and her favorites are taco fries, Slimming World pizza and a good old fashioned Sunday roast. Eating these foods on the Slimming World plan, helped her lose five stone.
Come along to one of her groups: Tuesday mornings in the bridgewater shopping centre in Arklow at 8am and 10 am. Also in Jacobs function room Rathdrum every Wednesday at 5:30pm and 7:30pm, contact her on 087 1552974.
Alison lives with her 2 teenage sons, so life can be hectic! The family’s absolute favourite Slimming World meal is gorgeously spicy Lamb Tagine. Great, comforting food for autumnal evenings!
Alison’s group runs in Coffee Delights in Bray on Wednesdays at 5.30 & 7.30pm. Facebook: Alison SW Jordan, contact also on 085 2727541
Busy nurse Jackie has lost 3.5 stone with Slimming World. The endless food choices allow her to never feel hungry and give her the flexibility to fit the eating plan into her busy working schedule.
Jackie is a SW consultant in Kilcoole Primary School, Saturdays at 9.30am and the Parkview Hotel in Newtown, Monday 5.30 and 7.30 pm. Tel 0830353633
Grainne has been a Slimming World consultant for 5 years! Her favorite meals include spaghetti bolognese, steak and chips and baked potatoes with tuna. She is passionate about helping others to enjoy their favorite food, lose weight and maintain their weight loss – simple really with our food plan and support.
Come along to find out how! Coffee delights in Bray on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 am and every Saturday morning at 9:30 am too. Instagram is SlimmingworldBray, Facebook is Slimmimg World Bray Grainne, and phone number is: 086 4661566
Patricia has been a consultant for 3 and a half years now and as a self-confessed chocoholic she loves the fact she can have a bar of chocolate or a glass of wine and still be following the Slimming World plan! The extra easy curry served with boiled rice and slimming world chips is a family favourite among her 3 adult children, she is also ‘the queen of the slow cooker’ as her members call her.
Patricia’s groups are held on Wednesdays at 7.30pm at Charlesland Golf Club or Thursdays at 5.30pm & 7.30pm at Byrne’s Pub, Kilcoole, for further info call 083-4434288
Lesley is a mum of 3 active kids and enjoys the unlimited amount of free food that she can enjoy with Slimming World! She has a real sweet tooth and one of her ultimate guilt free pleasures is Tiramisu, Slimming World style, much less unhealthy, just as delicious!
Lesley’s 3 groups are in the Bray Wheelers Cycling Clubhouse next to St Killian’s school on Schools Road in Bray. Every Thursday at 9:30 and 5:30 and 7:30 pm, and every Friday morning at 7:30 and 9:30 am. Contact Lesley on 086 2337984.
