Joy as super-slimmer mum Claire sheds four stone

Claire Ford, aged 36, from Tividale, has slimmed down to a healthy 8 stone 11lb from 13 stone and having regained her self belief has now set up her own class which starts on Thursday.

She said: "I had been going to Slimming World for nearly two years as I wasn't happy with my weight but also just not a happy person. I'd tried every diet in the book but nothing was working.

"In fact I'd just lost all interest and was just piling on the pounds.

"I wanted to be the Claire that I knew I could be – the confident Claire. I wanted to be successful in my life and achieve all my goals and for my children to be proud of me and not see me miserable anymore." Since joining Slimming World Claire has also quit smoking and made simple lifestyle changes to keep the pounds off.

She continued: "Here I am today four stone lighter, I have quit smoking and I am living a wonderful lifestyle working hard to maintain all my goals.

"With Slimming World I love that you don't have to go hungry and I've made lots of easy changes, like swapping gallons of sugary fruit juices and fizzy drinks that I thought was good for me for fresh fruit which is much more filling.

"I was offered the opportunity to become a consultant so I grabbed it with two arms and I am not letting go.

"If I can give back to my community, friends and family what I received from Slimming World then why not? I even started missing time off work as I felt sluggish, lethargic and embarrassed about the way I looked most of the time and I used to comfort eat.

"I had no motivation whatsoever. I'd just become somebody that I wasn't – and that was not a nice place to be.

"I went to my first class and loved every moment I was there. I was surrounded by people who were maybe feeling the same way I was but regardless I wasn't on my own anymore. I remember leaving class that evening and thinking this is it now I'm not turning back."

Claire's Slimming World group starts on Thursday at Portway Lifestyle Centre, in Newbury Lane, Oldbury, at 7pm and will run every Thursday.

For more information, contact Claire on 07539 950447.