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Episode 11 - The McGlynns
Alison and Robert McGlynn live in Hemel Hempstead with their four children, Matthew, Ellis, Katie, and 2-year-old Zak. Alison is 16 stone 4lbs and Rob weighs 15 stone, and with their diet of takeaways and junk food, they are not only putting their own health at risk, but also setting a lethal example for their children.
Alison’s life is hectic and she snacks on fatty and sugary snacks during her busy day. She feels exhausted but has trouble sleeping, so packs in calories in midnight snacks. She’s worn out and consequently resorts to quick-fix convenience food for family meals. Rob does not help matters - he is a self-confessed beer and takeaway lover.
Gillian is determined to get the McGlynns out of their junk food rut and her first pit stop is their enormous larder full of crisps, biscuits and chocolate. Their fridge, so big it lives in the garage, is full of takeaway remains and more fatty snacks. Gillian tells them that fatty food is difficult to digest and the amount they are eating could cause a build up of indigestion-causing acid. Both Alison and Rob confess they suffer from painful indigestion, as well as wind.
Gillian asks Alison to keep a food diary and confronts her with a table of all the food she has consumed in one week. It includes 3 slices of cheesecake, 10 bags of crisps and 28 biscuits, and her midnight snacks alone add up to the equivalent of one day’s worth of calories. Gillian is appalled at the sight and sends the children out of the room whilst she has strong words with mum and dad. She tells them they are setting a dastardly example.
Gillian is particularly concerned about the amount of calories Alison consumes in her sugary tea and coffee so she shows her the equivalent in fried eggs – a shocking 33 per week!
Next, Gillian checks Alison and Rob for physical signs of their poor diet. Alison has dark circles around her eyes, and Gillian tells her that she suspects she may be low in vitamin B6, which is linked to insomnia. Dr Sanj confirms Gillian’s suspicions when he tells her the results of Alison’s blood tests. She is low in both vitamin C and B6. He is also concerned about the McGlynn’s history of heartburn and indigestion and explains how this could lead to ulcers.
Alison and Robert McGlynn live in Hemel Hempstead with their four children, Matthew, Ellis, Katie, and 2-year-old Zak. Alison is 16 stone 4lbs and Rob weighs 15 stone, and with their diet of takeaways and junk food, they are not only putting their own health at risk, but also setting a lethal example for their children.
Alison’s life is hectic and she snacks on fatty and sugary snacks during her busy day. She feels exhausted but has trouble sleeping, so packs in calories in midnight snacks. She’s worn out and consequently resorts to quick-fix convenience food for family meals. Rob does not help matters - he is a self-confessed beer and takeaway lover.
Gillian is determined to get the McGlynns out of their junk food rut and her first pit stop is their enormous larder full of crisps, biscuits and chocolate. Their fridge, so big it lives in the garage, is full of takeaway remains and more fatty snacks. Gillian tells them that fatty food is difficult to digest and the amount they are eating could cause a build up of indigestion-causing acid. Both Alison and Rob confess they suffer from painful indigestion, as well as wind.
Gillian asks Alison to keep a food diary and confronts her with a table of all the food she has consumed in one week. It includes 3 slices of cheesecake, 10 bags of crisps and 28 biscuits, and her midnight snacks alone add up to the equivalent of one day’s worth of calories. Gillian is appalled at the sight and sends the children out of the room whilst she has strong words with mum and dad. She tells them they are setting a dastardly example.
Gillian is particularly concerned about the amount of calories Alison consumes in her sugary tea and coffee so she shows her the equivalent in fried eggs – a shocking 33 per week!
Next, Gillian checks Alison and Rob for physical signs of their poor diet. Alison has dark circles around her eyes, and Gillian tells her that she suspects she may be low in vitamin B6, which is linked to insomnia. Dr Sanj confirms Gillian’s suspicions when he tells her the results of Alison’s blood tests. She is low in both vitamin C and B6. He is also concerned about the McGlynn’s history of heartburn and indigestion and explains how this could lead to ulcers.
Before starting their new eating plan Alison and Rob consult their GP, and Gillian sets about devising a new low carb, high protein regime to wean them off fatty, fast foods. She shows them a table full of their new foods and Rob is sceptical at first. He says he hasn’t eaten a tomato in 10 years and pulls a face when he tries one. The fruity soup that Gillian suggests for their breakfast is well received by Alison and even Rob admits to liking the blueberries. Stuffed peppers and turkey and coriander, both dishes packed with vegetables, to Gillian’s glee, are also a success.
Two weeks into the diet and the McGlynn’s are doing well but are missing one of their favourite junk dishes – pizza. Gillian visits and shows them a healthy alternative. The kids are not convinced but Gillian is pleased to see Alison and Rob finally setting them a good example by tasting and enjoying different kinds of healthy foods in front of them.
Three weeks in, and all the family, even Alison with some not-so-gentle persuasion from Gillian, are starting gentle exercise on the trampoline in the garden. Alison is worried about how she can enjoy eating out with friends whilst she is on the diet so Gillian takes her to a restaurant and shows her how to make sensible and healthy choices.
After 6 weeks on the new regime Alison is sleeping all night, every night, and the kids are reaching for fruit when they need a snack, not crisps or chocolate. Alison says her whole outlook has changed and now she would not dream of giving her children the kind of food she used to. She says the thought of it now disgusts her. At the end of the 8 weeks, Gillian is delighted with the McGlynn’s results. Alison has lost 1 stone 11lbs, and Rob has lost 2 stone. They are both brimming with positivity. Alison always sleeps well now and neither she nor Rob have had heartburn since ditching their old diet. Matthew is delighted his spots have cleared up and he’s lost weight. The McGlynn’s are thrilled and tell Gillian they will never go back to their old ways.
Two weeks into the diet and the McGlynn’s are doing well but are missing one of their favourite junk dishes – pizza. Gillian visits and shows them a healthy alternative. The kids are not convinced but Gillian is pleased to see Alison and Rob finally setting them a good example by tasting and enjoying different kinds of healthy foods in front of them.
Three weeks in, and all the family, even Alison with some not-so-gentle persuasion from Gillian, are starting gentle exercise on the trampoline in the garden. Alison is worried about how she can enjoy eating out with friends whilst she is on the diet so Gillian takes her to a restaurant and shows her how to make sensible and healthy choices.
After 6 weeks on the new regime Alison is sleeping all night, every night, and the kids are reaching for fruit when they need a snack, not crisps or chocolate. Alison says her whole outlook has changed and now she would not dream of giving her children the kind of food she used to. She says the thought of it now disgusts her. At the end of the 8 weeks, Gillian is delighted with the McGlynn’s results. Alison has lost 1 stone 11lbs, and Rob has lost 2 stone. They are both brimming with positivity. Alison always sleeps well now and neither she nor Rob have had heartburn since ditching their old diet. Matthew is delighted his spots have cleared up and he’s lost weight. The McGlynn’s are thrilled and tell Gillian they will never go back to their old ways.
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