Mother to share slimming secrets after shedding eight stone

Kelly Sansome, 43, of Wynall Lane, Wollescote, decided to take action following a terrifying experience where she struggled to breathe and had to be put on oxygen.

The mother-of-two was about to turn 40 at the time and weighed nearly 20st.

But after joining a slimming group at Dingle Community Centre, in Kingswinford, Mrs Sansome has never looked back.

She now weighs a much healthier 11st and says she is all the happier for it.

And she has been inspired to help others achieve the same success and will lead her own slimming class at Gig Mill Primary School, in Norton, on Tuesday.

"The problem was we were a takeaway family," she said.

"As we worked shifts whoever came in last would pick up something such as pizza or fish and chips.

"It has not been easy but I have been able to cut all of that out. You can still enjoy similar foods but it is all in the preparation such us cutting away the fat from meals and not using certain oils."

Her efforts also inspired her own family to shed the pounds with husband Graham also losing six stone.

And her son Jordan and daughter Kirsty have also lost three-stone each.

"It is all about getting things right. For example for breakfast during the week I may have a fruit salad or cereal," she said.

"However of a weekend I treat myself and have a full English breakfast.

"Again it is all in the preparation cutting away the fat from the bacon and poaching the eggs rather than frying them.

"It has been really effective and I am really pleased with the amount of weight I have lost."

Mrs Sansome said she was nervous about leading her own class.

"I am really looking forward to it as well though.

I want people top experience the same success in losing weight as I have done,"

Mrs Sansome, a former student nurse, said she had been forced to face her weight problem after being embarrassed at work when the largest uniform she had to wear one day did not fit.

She also had high blood pressure and asthma and on one occasion had to be put on oxygen because she could not get her breath.

Mrs Sansome said her father had suffered a number of heart attacks – the first when he was just 35 years old – and she did not want to follow the same path.

"I remember the first time I attended the Slimming World class. I felt a complete nervous wreck but I need not have worried. I was made to feel totally welcome and at ease.

"I left that night feeling totally fired up."

In just four months she had dropped four dress sizes and lost four stone in weight. It was this success that also inspired her family to lose a weight themselves.

She said: "I am proud to be able to say I no longer suffer from any health conditions, I am no longer on any medication and my body mass index has come down from 49 to 27."

For more information on the new group call Kelly on 07857 244854.