Ruairi in running for slimming award

CRAIGAVON student Ruairi McAlinden described his chances of winning a national title this weekend as far from slim.

The 20-year-old will be travelling to England for the announcement of this year's Slimmer of the Year.

Ruairi was recently awarded the title of local young slimmer of the year after having dropped almost seven-and-a-half stone in just under a year.

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Known as 'Big Ruairi', he weighed just over 23 stone before beginning the Slimming World classes in Mount Zion House.

"I was a big lad," he said, "I was constantly being picked on in school and would hide behind my weight a lot - I would not go out.

"When I started Slimming World they said I could lose weight by eating more, and I thought they had it all wrong.

"But I was eating kilos of pasta and the weight just fell off - it's eating the right stuff and not the junk which helped.

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"There were weeks when I didn't do so well, but you can't starve yourself of the good things all the time."

Ruairi said his transformation has changed his personality, he went on: "I was never much into wearing nice clothes, now my parents complain about the amount there is around the house

"I used to be a size 15 shoe and could never buy a pair from a regular shop, but now I am a 12.

"Losing the weight has really helped me to become more outgoing, people used to either pick on me or be afraid of me because of my size.

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"I have joined MADS - something I would have never done before and I have met so many people and good friends."

He added: "Everyone used to call me Big Ruairi - even my mates - and that always annoyed me, but now they just call me Normal Ruairi.

"Losing the weight has given me a life, it is the biggest accomplishment I have ever achieved when I won the local award I was gobsmacked and to take the national title would be one of my greatest achievements - after losing the weight."

The Craigavon man will head off to England for Sunday night's announcement, he thanked his mum Jenny and aunt Teresa McCabe for their help and support along with Slimming World consultant Natalie Coia.

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