Mum loses half body weight to win slimmer of the year
Stephanie Burgess is literally half the woman she used to be.
The 31-year-old mother lost half her body weight - a whopping 12 stone - after piling on the pounds because of health problems and depression.
When her weight ballooned to more than 24 stone she was so distraught she even wrote letters explaining how to care for her children in case she died.
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Super slimmer: Stephanie Burgess lost more than half her body weight
Now, svelte Mrs Burgess has been crowned Slimming World's Woman of the Year 2007 and couldn't be happier.
She said: "My little girl looks back at photos and says, 'Is that mummy before she was fit?'
"My son screamed for about five minutes when he found out I'd won. He's so proud."
Mrs Burgess lives with her husband, Mark, and children, Thomas, eight, and Cerys, four, in Redcar, Cleveland.
She said: "My diet was okay, it was the junk food I was eating secretly that was the problem - sweets and chocolates and crisps."
Mrs Burgess said she started piling on the weight when she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome and told by doctors she might never have children.
Her sadness turned to secret comfort-eating behind her husband's back and although she happily gave birth to Thomas and Cerys, Mrs Burgess sunk in to post natal depression and put on even more weight.
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Fighting the flab: Mrs Burgess shows off her slim figure and enormous old trousers
Less than two years ago, weighing in at 24 stone, Mrs Burgess said she was convinced she was going to die. She said she was physically exhausted and suffered from excruciating backache and pain in her knees and ankles.
She said: "I was at my lowest point, in the depths of depression."
Fortunately her sister pursuaded her to try a slimming group and Mrs Burgess now credits the other members of the group for part of her success as they supported her over two years while she lost a total of 12 stone 2.5 lbs.
She put her weight loss down to healthy eating and exercise, saying the group completely changed her approach to food and exercise.
"I didn't go on a diet. I've just been re-educated about food and the importance of exercise," she said.
"If I'd carried on like before I'd just have kept piling weight on. I didn't have a life. I didn't do anything. I was just existing really. "Now, it's like a world opens up to you. You don't feel as nervous. You fit in to society better as well."
Mum loses half body weight to win slimmer of the year | the Daily Mail
Mum loses half body weight to win slimmer of the year
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Oh well...White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake anyone? 
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