Seamus's life turned around after 7.5 stone weight loss

Appeared in Sligo Champion newspaper -February 2021

St John's Chairman decided to drastically improve his lifestyle.  At the beginning of 2020, Seamus Casey decided he was going to turn his life around and tackle his weight problem.
At 25stone, he was all too aware that his health was at risk.
He took control, completely changed his diet, began exercising daily and a year later his life, energy levels and weight have improved greatly.  Seamus lost a total of 7 and a half stone, a drop that he says brought so many positive changes and his motivation has turned around completely.
He appeared on a segment of RTÉ's Operation Transformation last week where he shared his inspiring story with viewers.  Seamus candidly speaks about how people can get into a routine of unhealthy eating or dashboard lunches as he calls it and suddenly the weight just creeps up.

Seamus Casey, St John’s GAA Chairman, pictured at Cuilbeg at the weekend. He has lost more than 7 stone since embarking on a healthier lifestyle
He admits changes to a healthier diet doesn't necessarily make it less enjoyable or less tasty, there are so many meal options you can cook that aren't processed or laced with sugar. And the whole family are getting in on the cooking and watching what they are eating, which makes it all the more enjoyable.  He decided enough was enough after December 2019 and from there, he's not looked back.  Seamus told The Sligo Champion: "I suppose I'm just glad and lucky that I was able to turn things around.  "I started in January 2020, that previous December I ended up with Bell's Palsy and I just knew that things were going in the wrong direction.
"So in December I said right, look 2020 is going to be my year and I knuckled down and copped on.
"I have since lost 7 and a half stone and I don't know myself.  "It's amazing, I have more energy, I feel much better, I've more focus.  "I wasn't sleeping before this and then during the day I'd be getting so tired, but the whole thing has been life changing really.  "I have a lot more energy, I'm bursting to do stuff and I love going out for walks now.  "I walk 15km a day, everyday, I do 10km in the morning and another 5km in the evening.  "I might do a bit on the bike too. I'd say I am even a bit OCD about doing the exercising!," he laughed.
Alterations to what he was eating on a daily basis too helped with the weight loss and he began opting for far more healthier meals, with less calories.  "I made changes to my diet too. I don't eat anymore after 6pm, I find that helps a lot as you're not going to bed full.
"I also cut out sugar altogether. It wasn't too hard really.
"Before this, I used to drink maybe 8 cups of black coffee and I would put 2 spoons of sugar in it.
"I don't miss it at all. Now I have honey in my breakfast.
"I find really it's about making wise choices when it comes to what you are eating."
Seamus explains having a meal plan and sticking to it is what makes all the difference.
"What I find is that you have to plan what you're going to eat, not just suddenly decide.
"All the spontaneity has gone out of it but that's much better in the long run, you plan your day the evening before."  So definitely not grabbing the easiest options on the run, which are more often that not high in calories and sugar.  "In terms of what I'm eating, I've cut down on carbs a lot.
"I used to have potatoes everyday, now it might be twice a week instead.
"I used to eat brown rice, I've now replaced that with cauliflower rice and put that in a chicken curry, it's the same.  "It's about eating much more healthily and meals that are freshly made.
"Like say when I'm making spaghetti bolognese, I would use all fresh ingredients, there is no more cans.  "It is all fresh, it tastes nice and you feel better after eating it," he points out. 

It's not solely Seamus but the entire Casey household who are getting involved around preparing meals too, including Seamus's wife, Caroline and children, Seamus (14), Cathal (7) and Caitlyn (6).
"It really has become a family thing, and it's great to see the kids involved too.
"Another as well was that with Covid and the lockdown, you could make a bit more time to do this.
"If you were trying to work 9 to 5 say like you would have been doing beforehand.
"I'm lucky that everything has been going my way and the kids are really interested in it too, Seamus has lost some weight.  "There's no more buying more junk that just isn't good for you."
Having the children involved and aware of healthy eating at a young age will also stand to them in later years.  "It's great that they are so aware say of what's good and what isn't good for you.
"Seamus is really into it, he's there reading everything that's on labels and counting how many calories there are in things, he's studying it all and would ask if there was too many calories in something.  "My wife, Caroline, we go for walks together as well which is brilliant.
"It's great to have all that support too."  Another place Seamus credits for supporting and encouraging him along is his beloved club, St John's.  "I would be lost without St John's, it means so much to me.  "In reality, it's true what they say, that you get back so much more than what you put it and that's really true.  "The people that I'm surrounded by in the club are just so positive, they are fantastic."  The club is known too for how much it puts into initiatives, such as the GAA's Healthy Club project, Ireland Lights Up and the Irish Life steps challenge.
It's clear encouraging both young and old members to stay active is something St John's really strives towards. 

The endeavours by Seamus in overseeing the Healthy Club project, were recognised not just locally but nationally too when in 2019 he won a national local hero award, something he says he was extremely proud of.  "St John's really pushes the Health Club initiative, from doing Operation Transformation, the lockdown challenge and all of that.  "I've been Chairman now for 4 years and I must say they are great people.  "They are all very welcoming, even though most, like myself are blow ins!," he laughs.  "Very few are born and bred but I think it does more for the club.
"I'm originally from Tullamore and I've been living in Sligo now for 21 years."  Not exactly a blow in anymore to the Cuilbeg community then.  2020, with the Covid-19 pandemic, was slightly challenging for Seamus's publishing company, which publications include the Sligo Now magazine, Mature Living and Northwest Extra, but his positive attitude is rubbing off there too.  "With 2020, it was about adapting and we are still publishing the magazine and the newspaper.  "It's all about adapting and coming out the other side, staying positive is the main thing."
His zest for life seems to have completely changed since he determinedly took control of his lifestyle and he hasn't looked back.  "I hadn't weighed myself for a few years and the last time I had I was over 22 stone, it was a shock to realise I had put on 3 stone, although I knew by clothes not fitting,.
"I suppose it was only in the last 15 years I put weight on, prior to that I didn't have much of a problem.  "I was too fond of the dashboard lunches and eating stuff that I shouldn't be.
"I find eating late at night too isn't right for you, you're just lying on it.  "Sure, you never know, I could be lining out for St John's now when the football comes back!," he quips.  For people in similar situation that he was in, Seamus said his motivation advice would be to take it one step at a time.
"It's all about baby steps to begin with. Always set yourself challenges and the last person you want to let down is yourself, that will drive you on.  "I'm always trying to beat the time I did the day before, when I'm coming close to the last couple of kilometres, I know I'll be trying to do it.
"We are all competitive like that," he adds, saying it's also really important to give yourself credit too. Give yourself a pat on the back, we've a habit of kicking ourselves a bit, but it's even more important to give yourself a pat and say well done."