A WORCESTER mum who lost nearly four stone and won a top slimming award is now planning to follow in her husband's footsteps and inspire others to fight the flab.

Christine Smith, aged 31, of Greathouse Road, St John's, was crowned, with her husband Clayton, Mr and Mrs Slimming World in March 2005.

The couple used to weigh a whopping 37-and-a-half stone, but they knuckled down to changing their diet and lost an amazing 15 stone 10lb.

Clayton went from 25 stone to 12st 2lb while Christine slimmed down from 12st 4lb to 8st 10lb.

In 2003 she had seen herself on a family video and decided she had to do something about her weight.

"My chest looked like a staircase and my bottom looked like a sack of potatoes. I knew that I couldn't just blame the widescreen television and that action needed to be taken to lose weight," she said.

Christine joined Slimming World and lost nearly four stone by June 2004. She and Clayton had stayed at their target weight for nearly a year when they received the national Mr and Mrs Slimming World accolade.

Following the success, Clayton decided to run his own Slimming World groups and now Christine is planning to kick off the new year by starting up one herself.

Christine gave birth to their second child, Maddy Mae, in March this year and managed to get back to her target weight within three months. She went up to 15 stone when she had their daughter Abbey five years ago.

Christine, who has helped Clayton with his Slimming World groups, said: "I have been at home for five years and now I want to do something. I love Slimming World and I could not think of a better thing I could fit in around my lifestyle and I am passionate about it."

She says she wants to show other people what is possible. "It is about adopting a healthier lifestyle and changing your bad eating habits. That combined with the support from a group and food optimising with Slimming World, you can definitely achieve your goals."

Christine's group will start on Wednesday, January 3, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School, Bransford Road, St John's at 5.45pm.

Anyone who wants to shed those extra pounds after Christmas and the New Year can sign up for her group by calling 07903 266254.

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