Families are keeping fighting fit at gruelling boot camp fitness sessions in the West Midlands – with one woman shedding a massive 10 stone.

Debbie Haycox slimmed from a size 22 to a svelte size 8 after two years of training, transforming her life in the process.

But weight loss isn’t the only reason people are putting themselves through the tough regime.

Fitness is top priority for families like the Ellsmores who are raising money for charity by taking part in cycling and swimming events. Nick and Susan’s son Charlie, aged six, suffers from cystic fibrosis and they wanted to raise cash to aid research into the condition.

Debbie, aged 25, does three training sessions a week and is given weigh-ins and a nutritional programme at Fit Body Boot Camp, based at Himley Cricket Club.

The sessions are run by Richard Morris, who has been in the fitness industry for 10 years and used to train professionals such as former WBA world heavyweight champion David Haye and Thai boxing star Andre McIntyre.

Debbie, who has run two marathons since she started training with Richard, said: “I weighed 19 stone just over two years ago but my whole family were big so I didn’t think anything of it.

“My dad Alan died from cancer three years ago and then I started working at Tesco – and both of those things made me realised that I had to change, as I couldn’t walk up stairs without feeling out of breath.”

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