A mum-of-three lost eight stone during lockdown after being humiliated by an old school teacher.
Rola Jarnaz, 48, from Timperley, is in the minority of people who lost weight during the pandemic, going from a size 26 to 12.
She had suffered with weight issues for most of her life, but things became particularly bad when Rola was unable to walk upstairs due to constant knee pain.
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But Rola's lowest point was when she bumped into an old school teacher, who labelled her as "big."
"I've had weight issues for most of my life. I have been on diets and lost weight but would always gain it back," the mum said.
"I had to do my prayers sitting on a chair, it was so unbearable to kneel and think about anything other than the pain."
Speaking about the moment she bumped into an old teacher, Rola said: ."That hit me like a brick, I knew I was overweight but I had never been called "big" to my face.
"She said she'd lost weight with Slimming World so I decided I would try it."
Rola discovered a weight loss group in Whalley Range that fitted in with when her children were at school, and joined straight away.
"I was feeling nervous when I joined but I was warmly welcomed and treated like a VIP; the room was buzzing," she said.
"I listened carefully but I was sceptical.
"There was no limit on foods like rice, pasta, potatoes and you never went hungry.
"To me this sounded too good to be true - but I was in so much pain I had to try it."
Rola swapped oil to low fat spray, tahini to fat free Greek yoghurt, brie to halloumi, bread to rice, couscous and bulgur wheat.
She returned to the group the next week and had already lost 4.5lb (about 2kgs).
"I was hooked," Rola said.
"I stayed with my group every week (virtually) through lockdown to form a plan for another weight loss the next week.
"I've made so many friends. We celebrate our success, share recipes and ideas."
Two and a half years later, Rola has lost eight stone, dropped from a size 26 to 12 and walks completely pain-free.
After 10 months apart from her family due to lockdown, when she returned they could hardly recognise her.
"My mother kept staring at me in disbelief," Rola said.
Rola has now decided to become a Slimming World, to consult and help other people like herself.
The majority of people in the UK have gained weight during lockdown.
Latest government statistics show that over 40 per cent of adults gained weight, and 64 per cent of Manchester residents are now overweight or obese.
Dr Jacquie Lavin, Head of Nutrition and Research at Slimming World, says: "The power of the group and the peer support members give one another is what sets Slimming World apart.
"Our members become part of a community, something special, which helps them to realise that they are not alone in the challenges they face."
