A woman who got rid of her diabetes and dropped five dress sizes has won an award for her weight loss.

Linda Barton, 51, from Ashtead, was presented with the South East Weight Watchers Cover Star award by celebrity Patsy Kensit last week.

Mrs Barton joined the weight-loss programme in January last year and has lost 6 stone 5 in 18 months - taking her from 18 stone 9.5 to 12 stone 5.

The grandmother decided to lose weight as she was approaching her 50th birthday and thought "I can’t keep growing like this, it’s now or never". 

She had also been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which she said is caused by lifestyle choices leading to high sugar levels.

After joining Weight Watchers, Mrs Barton started exercising and a healthy eating plan – which resulted in the pounds dropping off and her diabetes disappearing.

She said: "The eating plan’s brilliant as it’s not that restricting at all.  If you make healthy choices it’s amazing how much you can eat.

"It’s a complete lifestyle change.  You can’t just stop as you will put weight on.  It’s about being in control."

Mrs Barton added: "I don’t need to take any medication for diabetes or blood pressure now.

"The doctor was amazed and said medication can’t do what I have done to control it."

The mum-of-one renewed her wedding vows in April and, after 25 years of marriage, had "the wedding day I always wanted", complete with a beautiful new dress.

She said: "This whole thing has completely changed every aspect of my life.  In the last couple of years I was made redundant and found it hard to find work.

"After joining Weight Watchers I made new friends and it led on to one thing and another."

 

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