This is so easy, I can eat what I like without counting calories or points. Being mindful of my snacking and eating more, earlier in the day has controlled my appetite. This really suits my lifestyle.

Ann, Athlone | 6 week health program 

Having struggled with trying to losing weight, re-occurring acne and abdominal cramping during my period I’d begun to accept it as just one of those things that you have to endure. It was only when the cramps got severe that I sought help from my GP who referred me to a gynaecologist. Upon examination, numerous cysts were detected on both ovaries, resulting in a diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). The treatment prescribed was the contraceptive pill.

The treatment helped to control the acne and menstrual cramps however I still struggled controlling my weight. Furthermore, having taken the Pill for well over a year, I decided to stop taking it as I felt long term use of the Pill could not be good for me.

However, once I stopped the treatment, the acne worsened and the menstrual cramps returned. I realised the ‘treatment’ did not solve my problem it just masked it. I also realised that if I was to be symptom-free I would have to continue taking the Pill. I wasn’t pleased about this and looked about finding other ways to overcome my problem.

I had read about nutritional therapy being used to help people to overcome long term conditions for which the conventional route had failed. I decided to contact Cathriona to see if she could help me to overcome the problems I was having. To be honest, I was sceptical as I found it hard to understand how food could treat a medical problem. I had always been told that’s what medicine is for, however, the medicine I had taken for my problem didn’t solve it so I decided to give nutritional therapy a go.

My first consultation with Cathriona involved answering a number of questions not only about my symptoms but also about lifestyle choices including diet and exercise. One of the questions I remember being asked was if I felt tired all the time. I remembered it because this was how I had felt for a long time but put it down to working a full week and general living. I also explained to Cathriona the food choices I made in a typical day and despite excluding sugary and fatty foods I seemed to be unable to shift the excess weight I had, especially around my tummy.

At the end of the first consultation, Cathriona explained that my symptoms (PCOS, constant fatigue and inability to lose weight) indicated poor blood sugar control. She explained in a very simple way why I was experiencing these symptoms and how I could stop these symptoms through small changes in diet and lifestyle choices. As it all made sense to me, I felt relieved that I could finally overcome my problems that had being making life miserable for a long time.

I followed the programme Cathriona recommended, which was very easy to incorporate into my lifestyle, and within a few weeks I felt like a different woman. I had so much energy and was no longer napping after work. My weight started to return to normal, my skin cleared up and the menstrual cramps stopped. I had a second consultation with Cathriona a couple of months later to see how I was progressing and I was delighted to inform her of my new self.

I also contacted my gynaecologist to check my cysts to make sure they hadn’t got bigger. Upon examination, he informed me that apart from two tiny cysts on one ovary all other cysts had disappeared! Not only was I shocked but he said he had never seen anyone with the cysts I had clear up in the way they did.

Today, many years on, I’m still symptom-free and expecting my first baby!

Thanks Cathriona.

Katherine (35) | former PCOS sufferer 

My job entails travelling abroad quite a lot and trying to manage weight while on a chaotic schedule and within different countries was quite a challenge. I am typically the yo-yo dieter, who’s eating pattern was, eat while you get a chance, missing meals such as breakfast or lunch, grabbing a coffee and a bar of chocolate while on the run. The weight was creeping up, my joints were beginning to ach, feeling fatigued, high cholesterol which was quite a concern of mine. I saw Cathriona offered 6 week programs to help people with all of the symptoms I listed but my schedule was not amendable to that type of plan. I called Cathriona and she put a 6 month program together for me with us meeting once per month. I expected to get the usual cut out the fat stuff, lay off the sugary foods but Cathriona’s approach was more on my lifestyle. She has a common sense approach in promoting areas such as eating regularly, watching portion size, ensuring a good balance of protein v carbs, building in snacking to avoid those energy slumps, exercise and having a routine.

Since embarking on this journey with Cathriona I lost 13lbs over the space of a year, cholesterol, down from 7.9 to 5.1, energy levels are up. Managing weight is not a result of the latest craze diet, its about applying common sense to your eating habits and making a lifestyle change. Thanks Cathriona for all you support of the last year – its being a pleasure working with you.

SM, Westmeath 

Cathriona provided a range of nutrition, health & wellbeing talks to our staff over a number of weeks as part of our Wellbeing Initiative for staff. Cathriona is hugely knowledgeable in her field and her talks were insightful and highly motivational and she ensured to cover topics that appealed to a wide variety of staff. We looked forward to Cathrionas visits each week and the delicious samples of healthy snacks she provided. Cathrionas programme was the kickstart we all needed for the year ahead. We would highly recommend Cathriona and look forward to having her back for more inspiration in the future. Thank you Cathriona!

RBK Athlone, Roscommon & Dublin 

Cathriona, Harry’s (3) daily diarrhea has stopped for the first time in a year! Hes a different boy. Taking him off wheat has made a huge difference, thank you.

Maria | Roscommon 

Cathriona’s presentations during a recent well-being day at Elan were very well received, informative and presented in a well structured, professional and relaxing manner. Staff that attended the event found her expertise very helpful and we look forward to inviting her back again at a later date.

Elan | Athlone 

We here at AXA were delighted with Cathriona’s recent seminar on “Healthy Eating for You and Your Family. She gave some great tips on preparing quick & nutritious meals and also provided some delicious snacks and recipes for us to take-away. We look forward to having Cathriona on site again in the near future.

Axa | Dublin 

Thanks Cathriona I’m actually doing brilliantly and can’t get over the difference since I gave up dairy. Im not kidding Cathriona were actually noticing that my legs and stomach area have shrunk and my trousers are very lose around my legs and waist. I am almost completely pain free through out my whole body. I am blown away. I am not running to the toilet now like I used too which is a huge change.

Adeline | Athlone

Cathriona attended our staff meeting to deliver an hour long session on Nutrition to a group of 12 staff. Cathriona’s presentation was very informative and the rapport she built with the group was very interactive. She confidently answered all questions and made the session very practical by including pre-prepared food as well as doing a food demonstration on site. She catered for the needs of all the group.

From a logistics perspective, I personally found Cathriona very easy to deal with and she delivered on all pre-agreed commitments and on this basis I would strongly recommend her for the above type of event.

Ulster Bank | Dublin

Hi Cathriona, just want to thank you again for coming to our Breastfeeding Group in Carrick last week and to let you know we’ve tried lots of your tips in our house. The kids love the energy bombs.

Antoinette | Carrick-on- Shannon 

Thanks so much Cathriona for helping me find the right product for my little girl! It has helped enormously and such a relief to know there is a gentle solution to her on going problem. Fantastic practical advice and ideas to creating a better diet for a fussy eater! Would have no problem in recommending your excellent services to friends, family and colleagues

Caitriona | Ferbane 

I am delighted to report that my migraine headaches seem to have decreased drastically thanks to the wonderful advice from Cathriona. I have stayed off all Amine rich foods and that seems to have done the trick. I had been getting fairly severe migraines lasting 3 days and although I still get slight headaches they now respond to analgesia which the migraines didn’t.

Mary | Athlone