Meet the incredibly shrinking Weldons

They are a large family but in fact the Weldons from Dublin are shrinking not expanding after they are all committed to losing weight and getting healthy.

The most inspiring member is Jack, 12, who now enjoys playing sport with his family and friends after changing what he eats and losing three and a half stone.

“I have more energy now and more confidence and before I would never go out ‘cos other children would be nasty to me,” he said.

His mum Triona, 43, joined her son in losing weight and said that, “once you get into the swing of it, it is natural and just part of your routine. It feels great to see Jack with extra confidence and getting on with other boys”.

The mother and son have been joined by her siblings and their children and in all there are nine Weldons who have all lost weight after joining the Slimming World group in Skerries one year ago.

Olivia, 37, a sister of Triona, is a diabetic, but her lifestyle change has seen it brought under control to such an extent that she is no longer on insulin injections and instead takes tablets.

Olivia has also lost three stone and said: “I am vegetarian and I love having extra vegetables with my meals.”

Another sister, Barabara, 38, has lost two stone and said: “Before I lost the weight I lived in tracksuits. I feel so much better about myself.

“I have cut out all the sweets — there was a time I would have eaten up to three bags a day.”

Her daughter Sophie, 20, has also lost weight.

Louise, 42, who is pregnant with her fifth child said: “On my last two pregnancies, my extra weight led to problems with my gall bladder and me having to go into hospital. This time I had lost two and a half stone beforehand and I can honestly say I feel much better than I have on any of the other pregnancies.

“My first child was born 22 years ago, and this time I have no aches, no pains and I had been trying to get pregnant for a couple of years and I definitely think losing the weight helped my fertility.”

Louise is due her baby in July and just a few weeks ago her niece Jade, 18, had her first baby, a boy, and she has already lost any baby weight.

In all, the Weldons have lost a combined 16 stone 7lb and they are not finished yet.

“It is the small things that can make a change. I never ate fruit before and now I will have fruit rather than a biscuit with a cup of tea,” said Triona.

Louise admitted it took her about two weeks to adapt to the eating advice from Slimming World, while Barabara said she still enjoys a glass of wine at the weekend.

Ger, 32, and his daughter Grace, 18, have also joined in the weight loss and have found it “better than other weight loss plans we have tried”.

“When I saw how my sister had lost weight in a week, I gave it a go,” said Ger.

As for Jack, he gets to have a McDonald’s once a week and enjoying soccer and taekwondo meant that he could get the Confirmation outfit he wanted last month.

“I am happy I have done this,” he declared.