When I look in the mirror these days I find it hard to believe that I am the same person I was before I started the diet, but then I suppose I am not the same person, because then I was quiet and shy and I hated having my photo taken and I wouldn't look in the mirror because I hated what I saw, and I am not ashamed to say that there were times I sat down and cried. Now I look in the mirror and see someone who has a lot more confidence and someone who has learnt to smile again.

I think the turning point for me came in 2001 when I saw that a lot of my family members were suffering with various health problems and I decided that I had to do all I could to reduce the chances of myself going down the same road if not for me then for my three children.

So it was on July the 11th that I took my first steps to a better life. I was really nervous that night but my Group Leader really put me at ease and after talking we decided that the lifestyle diet was the best one for me because it meant I could have a take away once a week.

I was devastated when she told me I was 16 stone 7lb and when I set myself a Target weight of 10 stone it seemed a lifetime away. To be honest I didn't really believe I would succeed. But I hadn't counted on the help of my Leader or the girls at the club. The other person is my husband he gave me a pound coin for every pound I lost and on the weeks I put weight back on he would tell me it didn't matter and that I would lose it next week, believe me the poor soul went through hell.

Finally after 13 months I reached my target and now I am even lower and I have gone from size 22-24 to a size 10 and nothing can beat that feeling.

My husband says that he has got a new wife and my kids tell me they have a super slim Mom, but the one person who I wish could see me is my Dad but sadly he passed away from cancer on the 31st July 2001 and it would have been so easy to give up but I decided to carry on as a tribute to him and I know that if he was still here he would be the proudest one of them all.

Starting Weight = 16st 7lbs
Total Weight Loss = 7st 1lbs
Weight Now = 9st 6lbs