A mum who piled on the pounds after suffering an injury has lost an incredible eight stone in the space of 16 months.
Kirsty Robinson, from the Lancashire town of Darwen, near Bolton, previously kept fit by swimming but had to give it up after damaging her shoulder.
LancsLive reports that "before she knew it" Kirsty had gained eight stone.
"I have always been quite fit and active," she said.
"But then when that suddenly stopped and me being a girl that was brought up on big portions of course my weight went up as my fitness levels went down.
"Before I knew it I was over eight stone heavier and feeling pretty disappointed with myself."
Kirsty became "fed up" with wearing baggy clothes to cover her excess weight and after trying calorie counting - which left her feeling "constantly starving" - she decided enough was enough and took the plunge into Slimming World.
Although initially nervous about joining Slimming World, Kirsty soon found her fellow slimmers proved to be a source of encouragement and support.
"I felt really nervous, in fact I was petrified when I walked through the door, but I was soon put at ease by the other members in the group and with the kind words of the Consultant," she said.
"There were always extra words of encouragement on the weeks when I struggled."
In her first week Kirsty lost half a stone and was delighted she could still enjoy home-cooked favourites such as chilli-topped chips, pepperpot stew and Mexican chicken, as well as the odd takeaway accompanied by a glass of wine.
"Taking things to work and having my meals prepped for when I got home helped massively," she added.
After losing 8st 2lb in 16 months Kirsty was finally able to get back in the pool and has improved her fitness levels so she can now swim two miles again.
"I’ve now joined the gym, I’ve also started to run and I’m finally back in the swimming pool again and I’m currently back up to a two mile swim and I know that my exercise is now going to help me maintain a happier, healthier and slimmer lifestyle," she said.
Kirsty has now launched her own Slimming World group which will meet at Highfield Church Hall in Edmund Street, Darwen.
