Michael Shanley, Team leader with Weight Watchers
There are lots of Weight Watchers success stories but there's something a little unique about Michael Shanley. The former butcher lost 25.4 kilos (four stone) on the programme and was so impressed, he gave up his job to become a full-time class leader in north Co Dublin.
Shanley was 108 kilos (17 stone) when he joined Weight Watchers at the age of 34. "I see men coming to my classes now who are that weight and they don't look fat. But I was fat. I was flabby and carrying all the weight to the front, which is the worst place to carry it. I was getting heavier all the time and was sick of the comments I was getting. My wife was a member and I decided to go with her." On his first night, to his horror, he was the only male among 50 females. "My wife told me there would be loads of men at the class but she lied! It's changed a lot since then and there are men-only meetings now." He lost 2.7 kilos (6lbs) that first week.
"I dieted over the years but nothing worked. The difference this time was that I got myself educated about the right foods to eat and then stayed aware - checking labels, watching the fat content. I lost 25.4 kilos [four stone] without feeling hungry. I was eating the same amount but I was eating the right foods." Having reached his target weight, Shanley began to notice other men who needed to lose weight and wondered if he could help. "In the end I decided to go full time with Weight Watchers."
The transition from student to teacher was nerve-wracking. "I still get a little nervous before a class but once I stand up, I'm fine." Now in his fifth year with the organisation, he is about to embark on the busiest month of the year. "As January goes on, it just gets busier and busier as people start acting on their New Year's resolutions. They may have been worried about their weight in December and thanks to Christmas they are half a stone heavier." He is coy about the percentage of New Year attendees who are still around in February or March. "Some drop off but the vast majority stick with it," he replies diplomatically.
"Seeing someone who came in feeling unhappy and unsure of themselves reach their target weight - that's the pleasurable part of it for me. I had a lad in one of my first classes in Swords who lost 133.5 kilos [21 stone], now he's 101.6 kilos [16 stone]. He's the picture of fitness now and that's what keeps you going in this job."
www.weightwatchers.ie