TROWBRIDGE mum Nicola Watters is hoping to inspire others to lose weight after she dropped more than six stone in a bid to make sure she looked her best for her 40th birthday.

The self-confessed chocolate lover and mum-of-two finally decided to do something about her weight with her birthday around the corner and joined her local slimming world group.

After reading about the government policy for obesity and healthy eating and learning more about the risk of Type 2 diabetes, she started regularly attending the group.

“I’ve been very overweight all my adult life and having recently become a Mum again,” said Mrs Watters, who had previously tried and failed a number of different fad diets.

“I was concerned having learnt that according to the Government policy for obesity and healthy eating, people who are overweight have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers, I decided I needed to be a healthier Mum for my children.

“After trying and failing at many fad diets, I was sceptical walking into my local Slimming World group for the first time. I thought being big was how I was supposed to be.

“My previous attempts to lose weight had failed as I was unable to eat the foods I love, so the pounds would soon pile back on and more.”

However, Slimming World allowed her to still eat the foods she wanted to and Mrs Watters said: “I never went hungry and could enjoy my favourite meals including roast dinners, spaghetti bolognaise and of course chocolate.

“Over the weeks with the help and support of my Slimming World consultant and members in group, the pounds fell off and I love going to group and catching up with my friends, we're like a family.”

Mrs Watters eventually gained enough confidence to start running and entered a Cancer Research UK Race for Life 5k race for motivation.

“'I'd never run anything more than a bath,” she joked. “But I achieved my first 5k race and have gone on to run my first half marathon this year. I've never felt so fit and healthy.”

Having now lost six-and-a-half stone Mrs Watters now hopes to inspire others by opening her own new Slimming World groups, starting on September 3 at 7.30pm at Trowbridge Town Hall. For more information, contact 07751 997033.