A self-confessed crisps and takeaway addict has changed her life and dropped half her body weight in just a year.
Claire Friend, 44, has lost 11 stone in 12 months and gone from a size 26 to a size 12 after an incredible lifestyle transformation.
The mum-of-two decided to take drastic action when the first lockdown ended after fearing her obesity could lead her to an early grave.
After overhauling her diet, she’s now even borrowing clothes from her "proud" 15 and 22-year-old daughters.
Claire said: “I would easily eat my way through a family sized bag of crisps every night after a huge dinner.
"Then last July I tripped over in the garden and couldn't get myself up.
"That was a harsh wake up call for me. I was thankful my two daughters were there at the time, but I didn't want them having to help me get around, which I realised would soon happen if I didn't take control of my weight."
Claire, from Canterbury, Kent, is 5ft 4ins tall but used to have a Body Mass Index of more than 50.
She feared she’d end up bed-bound if she didn't stop her junk food habit, as well polishing off an average of seven Jack Daniels and Cokes each night.
After years of failing to stick to fad diets, Claire committed to big changes and got to grips with the weight struggles she’d been battling since her teenage years.
She said: "I am asthmatic and I was struggling with my breathing when lying down at night.
“Last summer during lockdown was a turning point for me, I would go to bed and worry if I would wake up.
"The next day I cleared out the cupboards, chucked out all the family sized packs of crisps and jars of ready made sauces and ready meals."
Claire joined Slimming World in August last year and by Christmas she was already down to 16 stone - but she didn’t stop there and still wants to lose more.
Claire said: "I hadn't been 16 stone since before the birth of my eldest and she is now 22, but I wasn't ready to stop. I’d set a target of half my body weight and I am determined to do it.”
She added: "A year ago I would never have imagined it was possible, now I'm just one stone off my 10 stone weight target and that feels incredible."
The change has had a positive impact on her mental health, with Claire revealing she used to "hide in the corner" at social events.
Now she’s joined a dating site and credited her weight loss with giving her "the confidence to try and meet new people".
Claire said she still doesn’t like exercising, but was amazed at the changes she saw in herself after tweaking her diet.
She also donated most of her plus size wardrobe - but has kept one pair of jeans to remind her of her success.
Claire said: "I want to keep them as a reminder not to let myself get back to that again.”
