‘It was so upsetting’
After being diagnosed with arthritis in her knees at 35, Debbie Ryan decided a change was needed in her life. After being told by her doctor to either lose weight or that she wouldn’t be able to climb stairs any more, the news came as a major blow to Debbie.
“I thought arthritis was something only older people were diagnosed with but I was shocked to discover that people of all ages are living with arthritis, not just the elderly. I was always fit, whether it was attending fitness classes, walking or playing tennis, I was always on the go but as the years have gone by, and as the weight has gone on, I have become less and less active.”
Debbie, from Cork but living now in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria, and her husband own and run a busy bar but with her arthritis, working behind the bar became a huge struggle.
She says: “I would drive to the bar because even the short walk would aggravate my knees and I already knew I’d be on my feet working for the night. But even getting out of the car was a challenge. I would have to swing both my legs out of the car to be able to stand up. Any normal person would put one leg out and the other would follow, it was so upsetting.”
Debbie, who also has a hiatus hernia, also aggravated by excess weight, turned 40 during the first lockdown of 2020.
“I had made a promise to myself that I would be healthy for my 40th. I tried Slimming World a few times, but I just couldn’t get myself to commit. I was taking medication daily for severe acid reflux and anti-inflammatories for my knees. I was in the depths of despair and really felt so lost.”
Everything came to a head when Debbie had her Zoom birthday party.
“It was so much fun but I was very sad; I could see my name on the screen but the woman staring back at me was not me. It couldn’t be! I knew I had to do something!”
After Slimming World consultants took their service to the virtual world in March 2020 for the first time, Debbie took her chance.
“Four weeks into lockdown I was piling on more weight; 11 and a half pounds more to be exact and I knew I could not carry on the way I was going. Slimming World groups had become virtual and I knew this was my chance to take control and get back to who I used to be and to stop hating myself. Lockdown has its own challenges. I had power over one challenge and that was my weight!”
On 18 December, just eight months since joining, I got my four stone award! I still can’t believe I am even saying that! There are so many things I can do now; I can walk up stairs and not limp or be in pain. I eat what I want regardless of my hernia and I can’t remember the last time my knees gave me trouble.”
Debbie now attends virtual fitness classes five days a week in the form of pilates, zumba and strength training, sometimes staying on after one class to join another.
“I have loads of energy now! I have made so many friends in my group that is run by Lorraine in Glanmire. I wouldn’t miss my 12pm session for the world. They are like my family now. They’ve even decided to come out here to see me when things go back to normal.”