Suffolk: Mum gets her life back after losing seven stone

Kathryn Mason, 29, from Great Blakenham, started to gain weight whilst at university.

She would regularly drink excessive amounts of alcohol, have takeaways and live on quick, high-fat foods.

She joined Slimming World in Needham Market after making excuses to her son, as to why she couldn't take him to the trampoline park in Ipswich, as she exceeded the 18-stone weight limit.

Kathryn Mason after her weight loss (Image: Kathryn Mason)

She said: "I avoided days out with my son due to the lack of energy, but I also feared what I looked like to other people.

"My mental health took a toll, I couldn't even bear to walk into a supermarket.

"After years of calorie counting to lose weight, I was never successful, I felt inferior, always the big one, I felt that I would never be normal and that normal clothes would never fit."

Before starting her weight loss, her diet would regularly include chocolate bars, takeaways, cake and large bowls of sugary cereals.

She continued: "My whole outlook on cooking and eating has changed."

In just nine months, Ms Mason dropped from a size 22 to a size 12.

She said: "I've got a newfound confidence.

"I will never look back on the old me and I am now excited to enjoy days out with my son.

Kathryn Mason (Image: Kathryn Mason)

"I am healthier and feel so much better and I have literally got my life back."

Ms Mason praised the Slimming World group, which helped her lose all the weight, by saying: "I struggled for so long alone to lose weight.

"Now though, as a group, we share hints, tips, recipes and ideas.

"The support and encouragement weekly is amazing, and even on the weeks that were not so easy, I was never judged.

"My group is like family to me and I wouldn't be without it."