Over the last six weeks, Hannah Nolan of Why Weight Ireland has shared her Get Fit & Fabulous plan with Irish Country Living. Three readers – Mary Coen, Majella Thompson and Catherine-Anne Malone – shared their achievements and challenges on our blog and as a reward, were treated to a top-to-toe makeover thanks to Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge, Co Kildare. And don’t they look fab?

MARY

Mary Coen (56) lives in Hollymount, Co Mayo, with her husband, Liam, where they keep a suckler herd as well as a pedigree Texel flock. The mother-of-four always found it hard to make time for exercise, but felt it was time to take charge of the future.

Start weight: 12st 13½lb

Measurement loss: 17cm

Weight loss: Half a stone

Hannah Nolan says: “Mary did struggle with her food a little bit, but despite this managed a half-stone loss. She also saw a great inch loss and fabulous improvement in fitness, being able to add jogging into her routine, which never happened before. Considering it’s a little more challenging to lose weight as we age, with the slowing metabolic rate, Mary should be really pleased with her progress.”

Mary says: “I am now able to jog/walk for four miles and I have definitely moved down a size in my clothes, but, most importantly, I am feeling good in both mind and body. Just more comfortable and confident.”

  • • Style: Mary was styled by Pamela Scott at Whitewater Shopping Centre. Manager Natasha Burke explains that the ultra-flattering skinny leg jeans and waterfall-style jacket are on trend for autumn, while the best-selling Sangria dress is simple, but elegant.
  • • Look one: Green leather-look jacket €69.95, Sophie B printed tunic €49.95, NYDJ’s black skinny leg jeans €139.95 and Marco Tozzi ankle boot €49.95.
  • • Look two: Sangria blue and black lace dress €79.95, Fischer headpiece €55.95, Lunar black patent shoe €49.95 and Lunar black clutch €35.95.
  • • Hair: Peter Mark stylist Tara Dowling added tone with scattered lowlights and highlights, and chopped two inches off to create fullness.
  • • Makeup: Noreen Halford of Clarins at Debenhams created Mary’s natural look with products including Clarins BB cream to give an extra radiance boost under foundation (€34.50) and Clarins ombre matte eyeshadow pot in nude beige and heather (both €22.50).

    • CATHERINE- ANNE

    Catherine-Anne Malone (27) lives on the family farm in Ballyhale, Co Kilkenny. As a single mum to daughter Shauna and having recently completed a special needs assistant course, she had her hands full and turned to food when stressed. Her goal was to start implementing healthier exercise and eating habits to feel fabulous for her graduation in September.

    Start weight: 16st 3½ lbs

    Measurement loss: 43cm

    Weight loss: Half a stone

    Hannah says: “Cathy had the most inch loss, with an amazing 43cm, and also lost half a stone. She also found that she was able to slowly build up using the couch-to-5k running plan and increase her fitness dramatically.”

    Catherine-Anne says: “I am walking much faster than before and now look forward to doing the exercise routines. It doesn’t seem like work. I’ve given up fizzy drinks and chocolate, and have become much better at cooking from scratch. Overall, I feel more energised.”

  • • Style: Catherine-Anne was styled by Carraig Donn at The Whitewater Shopping Centre. Manager Debbie Ruddy says that the best-selling J’aime La Vie trousers and waterfall jacket are key mix and match pieces for autumn, while the classic monochrome dress has a feminine fit and flare and flattering sleeves for cooler days.
  • • Look one: J’aime La Vie Lize stretch trousers €49.95, Pala Dora print crochet top €29.95, J’aime La Vie waterfall jacket €79.95, Soul necklace €30, Soul bracelet €20 and cross-body bag €29.95.
  • • Look two: J’aime La Vie Valerie Rose dress €69.95, necklace €30, bracelet €20 and box wallet €29.95.
  • • Hair: Peter Mark stylist Johnny Gorman used a L’Oréal permanent colour to give Catherine-Anne rich chocolate-brown tresses, finishing the look with a curly blow dry.
  • • Make-up: Noreen Halford of Clarins at Debenhams created Catherine-Anne’s look with products including Clarins beauty flash balm to prime the skin before foundation (€36.50) and Clarins Pretty Day autumn/winter eye palette €38.

    • MAJELLA

    Majella (40) lives in Wolfhill, Co Laois, with her husband, Don, step-children, James (13) and Bríd (12), and daughters Katie-May (five), Eleanor (three) and Freya (one). Her main aim was to start making much-needed me time for exercise in her busy life and ultimately, feel more comfortable in her own skin.

    Start weight: 12st 5½ lbs

    Total measurement loss: 18cm

    Total weight loss: 1lb

    Hannah says: “The biggest change Majella noticed was a reduction in inches. Dropping a dress size proved results more than the scales. The other really noticeable difference was the increase in fitness and the ability to now complete the 5km distance, which shows fantastic improvements and a great base to continue building upon.”

    Majella says: “As a busy mammy, I found the calorie counting and food diary the most challenging thing about the programme. As I had previously lost a lot of weight before this challenge, the aspect that I wanted to tackle was the exercise. By making time for myself, I’m exercising regularly and now running most of my 5km rather than trudging through it. This has done so much for my self-esteem and I’m more toned and so much more confident.”

  • • Style: Majella was styled by Debenhams at Whitewater Shopping Centre. Personal shopper Breda Nolan explains that look one is stylish, but practical for a busy mum. The pattern on the blouse distracts from any areas you might be self-conscious of. The prom-style dress is soft, elegant and elongates the body.
  • • Look one: Blouse from The Collection by Debenhams €37.50, Red Herring jeggings €30, Faith suede nude shoes €67.50 and Debut nude bag €30.50.
  • • Look two: Prom dress from The Collection by Debenhams €72, Principles black patent shoe €52.50 and Debut bag €30.50.
  • • Hair: Peter Mark stylist Bobbie Mitchell used a colour ID chart to choose easy-maintenance highlights to suit Majella’s skin tone, softened the layers around her face and finished with a big brush blow dry.
  • • Make-up: Noreen Halford of Clarins at Debenhams created Majella’s look with products including Clarins instant light radiance booster (€30.50) and Clarins ombre matte eyeshadow pot in nude pink and sparkly grey (both €22.50).

    • FEELING FIT & FAB: It’s not all about the scales

    So often when it comes to how we look and feel, we tend to focus on the scales, but according to Hannah Nolan of Why Weight Ireland, increased fitness, inch loss and body confidence are much more important.

    “All three ladies felt that the weight loss could have been a little better on the scales, however, I explained to them that the scales only show part of the picture and it is the measurements where we can really see a lot of the work that has gone on,” she explains.

    “Quite often when we go from doing very little exercise to suddenly incorporating it into our daily lives, our body goes through a period of quick changes with regard to improvements in muscle mass.

    “As you add in more exercise, your body responds by improving and increasing muscle. If we look at the volume of muscle compared with fat, fat takes up a much larger space in your body than the same weight in muscle. If you visualise a block of butter for a pound of fat and then sit it next to a matchbox (to represent the size of a pound of muscle) you can see the difference in size.

    “When you build muscle and lose fat simultaneously, you may not see any change at all on the scales. However, you will have still have lost fat and this is where inch loss comes in to play and helps reflect these changes in body composition.

    “A lot of times we put a lot of stock in how we feel based on what the scales say, but if you feel better and your clothes are looser, then this is a great indication that your exercise and weight loss is going to plan and you are reducing your body fat.

    “For best results, use a combination of the weighing scales and the measuring tape to track progress.”

    For further information about Why Weight Ireland, read more here.

    Credit: Whitewater Shopping Centre

    With over 70 high end stores including much-loved brands such as Debenhams, Carraig Donn, Pamela Scott, Kilkenny Design, M&S, H&M and Zara, as well as 16 food outlets and an impressive 8 screen Odeon cinema, Whitewater Shopping Centre in the vibrant heart of Newbridge has become loved for all the right reasons. Providing 1,700 easily accessible car parking spaces and a premium retail offering, Whitewater attracts over five million shoppers a year. Style, quality and commitment to providing a five star shopping experience to all their customers has earned Whitewater Shopping Centre a loyal customer following, since first opening its doors in 2006. Read more here.