Real-life slimmer:

“I lost 9st and found my confidence”

❛REACHING MY TARGET WEIGHT WAS THE HAPPIEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE❜

Sarah Kinally, 34, a Slimming World Consultant from Stourbridge, West Midlands, is 5ft 4 and lost 8st 111/2lbs

❝As a teenager, I was badly bullied because of a scar on my forehead. I turned to comfort eating and spent all my pocket money on crisps and cakes. As my weight spiralled, so did the bullying. When I left for college, I was a size 18.

“As soon as I was earning my own money, I started buying loads of takeaways and was flying through dress sizes. I tried to slim down by attempting lowcarb diets, but I’d get bored and gain even more weight.

“In 2010, my sister Jennie announced she was getting married and, with my mum, she joined Slimming World. I was too self-conscious to go to group sessions, but I ate the same meals as them. In a few months, I lost 3st and went down to a size 22 from a 26.

“Tragically, just before the wedding, my gran died. I turned to junk food to cope, as I’d done before. At my lowest ebb, I was a size 28 and began to consider weight-loss surgery. While doing so, I spotted a blog post by a woman who’d also come to the conclusion that surgery was her only option, but had joined Slimming World and lost weight. It was the push I needed, and in September 2013 I decided to join with the support of my mum and Jennie, who agreed to come with me. I was shocked when I saw 19st 9lbs on the scales, but the moral support was invaluable and the plan was easy to follow, with meals like fruit and yoghurt for breakfast and healthy curries for dinner. In May last year I reached my target of 10st 12lbs and it was the happiest moment of my life. The change in me is amazing. I never want to go back to the old me – I love the new me too much.”