Weigh to go as pair slim down

At their heaviest, mother and daughter Tracey-Jane and Rachel Lacey together tipped the scales at around 30 stones.

A diet of takeaways, shop-bought sandwiches and chocolate bars kept Mrs Lacey in a dress size 22 and her teenager daughter in a 16. But the pair, from Merrick Road in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, are almost unrecognisable now after losing a life-changing eight stones between them.

Tracey-Jane, aged 39, is now a size 16 and Rachel, aged 14, a more healthy 10-12.

Mrs Lacey, who works at Lloyds TSB in Wednesfield, said she decided to battle the bulge after being terrified at the thought of being overweight at 40.

After seeing her success, Coppice Performing Arts School pupil Rachel followed in her mother’s footsteps.

The pair’s amazing transformation has happened in less than a year thanks to a change in diet, more exercise and the support of friends at a slimming class in Essington.

“The thought of being fat at 40 was horrible,” Mrs Lacey said. “I was determined to do something about it and as the weight started to drop off, Rachel joined in too.

“I’m pleased with my weight loss but over the moon with Rachel.”

The pair are now looking forward to a family holiday in Portugal.

“We can’t wait to wear all our new summery clothes,” said Mrs Lacey, who is married to husband Steve and also has a nine-year-old son Matthew.

She said changes such as eating jacket potatoes instead of chips and making her own lunch instead of tucking into high-calorie, shop-bought sandwiches had seen the pounds fall off.

Mrs Lacey has gone from 16st 5lbs to 12st 5lbs and Rachel from 13st 5lbs to 9st 5lbs.