'This time last year I was struggling to walk' - Kilkenny woman's weight loss story

We're halfway into January and many people are currently taking on 'New year, New Me' challenges and deciding to make positive changes to their lifestyles, like losing weight or quitting smoking, we spoke to a local woman about her recent lifestyle overhaul.

In an exclusive interview, a woman from Kilkenny has opened up about her incredible weight loss success story that started this time last year.

Noelette Reidy from Piltown in Kilkenny said that back in 2020 she spent that time "getting heavier and heavier" while looking after her four teenage boys.

"I put everything into them and very little into myself," she said.

Towards the end of 2024 Noelette was starting to reach a breaking point with her weight affecting her everyday life.

"There was a couple of things going to give...with my health and my physical wellbeing. I was struggling to walk upstairs. I was struggling to walk anywhere really, I was struggling to pick up stuff off the floor. 

"I had got very heavy, very heavy, and day to day functioning in life had got very difficult. And even though I was looking after the four lads and my husband, they had the best of everything. I used to chop fruit and make smoothies, and they'd all have their proper meals and all the rest.

"I felt that I didn't include myself in any of that and then I was snacking on rubbish and just not looking after myself."

Noelette went on to join Slimming World in Kilkenny in January 2025, telling herself, 'I have to save myself...if I don't start this journey, I'm going to be in bother health wise, if I give another year doing the same thing over again.'"

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"I had a big, a big, long road ahead of me, to start is difficult, the middle of the road is difficult, the end of the road is difficult, like every part of trying to lose weight is difficult, there's no question about it.

"Losing weight is not for Christmas, it's not for a wedding, an occasion or a holiday, it's for life. I don't think there's anybody ever going to lose weight and just say 'oh, that's it now, chapter closed, project done, end of.'"

The group in Kilkenny has seen 56 members join as of January 2026 and their total weight lost in the first week was 16.6 stone.