Lisa O’Connor had struggled with her weight for a number of years, but it wasn’t until the Covid-19 pandemic that she truly began to look at how it could affect her health.

The Louth native had just had her third child, and in the midst of the uncertainty about Covid, she wanted to be in the best shape she could be to look after her children.

Now, she is four and a half stone down and has completely changed her lifestyle.

Read more:Cork woman Jessica Daly lost 10 stone in one year and transformed her life

“At the time, no one knew anything about the virus or the long term effects,” Lisa told us. “But I remember a lot of the headlines said that overweight people were more likely to end up in ICU with severe Covid.

“I had just had my third baby, and I thought, ‘what kind of mammy am I, not doing something about this when it’s within my control?’

“I had been unhappy with my weight for so long, and that was the kick up the bum I needed. I felt like it was selfish of me not to be at my healthiest. I owe more to my children.”

Lisa began to gradually change up her lifestyle, exercising more and being more mindful of the food she was eating.

“The first thing I did was I got out more,” she said. “I started tracking my walks with apps that would tell me how far I walked and the calories I had burned. I noticed how a walk could easily burn around 400 calories.

“Then I looked more towards my food. I didn’t want to go through that effort of exercise and then cancel it out with what I’m eating.”

Lisa began to track her food intake and how many calories she was consuming through an app. She made sure to eat healthier while also moving more to ensure she was in a calorie deficit. Everyone’s calorie deficit is different depending on factors such as lifestyle, height and weight and she advises doing proper research to ensure you are eating the right amount of food to remain healthy.

“It all fell into place as a healthier habit,” said Lisa. “For me, tracking meant that I had to be accountable. There was no sneaking a biscuit or having a secret bag of crisps when you’re keeping track of what you’re having. When you’re tracking your food it’s just about you, the only person you’re lying to is yourself.

“Becoming accountable for myself really changed how I was eating.”

She also has a popular Instagram page, @irishcaloriequeen, in which she shares her meals as inspiration to others who want to enjoy tasty but healthy foods.

“I followed lots of other food pages on Instagram,” said Lisa. “That’s how I ended up sharing mine. Everyone was showing individual meals but for me I wanted to show that you can do this while also making food for your kids.”

Lisa altered the food she had been eating to make healthier, but still tasty, meals for her and her family. She is proud to be bringing her children up with a healthy attitude to food and fitness that they can carry with them through their life.

“What I love most about it all is what I’m teaching my kids,” she said. “I do workouts from home with my kettlebells and dumbbells and my three year old now pretends to pick them up and do it with me.

“For them, having a healthy lifestyle will just be normal. The way I was eating before, their diet would have been awful.

“Even though I’ve lost weight for myself, I’ve also made such a positive change within my house.”

Now four and a half stone down for three years, Lisa is maintaining her weight and doesn’t deprive herself of anything but focuses on balance when it comes to her diet.

“If I want it, I can have it,” she said. “I can still have my bar of chocolate, I don’t have a negative attitude about any food, because that’s not sustainable. For me, it’s just about the education of knowing what is going into my body.”

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