A local slimming expert and now team developer with Slimming World for the Congleton & Biddulph area, has transformed her life by losing 6st 11lbs, after joining herself as a member back in August 2012, to support a friend.

After attending her first class with the idea of weighing in and leaving each week, Laura Boundford was really surprised by how welcoming the group was and has proudly weighed and stayed at each group ever since.

The 31-year-old from Mow Cop, has suffered since she was around the age of 10 with her weight, after being a very active child, her mum became ill suddenly and all the activities she loved like swimming, line dancing and roller skating had to stop.

To compensate she was bought a computer to keep her entertained, but this change from an active lifestyle was the starting point for her weight problems, and subsequent comfort eating.

In the following years she moved from a house with lots of stairs to a bungalow, and cooked a lot for herself to help take the strain off her mum, which led to her eating convenience foods like microchips and pizzas.

Laura said: "I was bullied in high school by a lot of different people and although I tried to not let it affect me, it hurt a lot. I first realised I was overweight on my first day at high-school, I was one of the heaviest people in my year and that comes with a lot of unwanted, unkind attention.

"I was confident enough and felt okay in my own skin at the time as it has never really been a problem. I had songs made up about my weight and was called horrible names on a daily basis.

"I didn't have much support at home to know how to do anything about my weight back then; I had plenty of people telling me I was overweight in horrible ways but no one around to really help me to see a way through it.

"The weight kept creeping on as I comfort ate, and my weight just spiralled out of control. I was very unhappy by the end of high-school, even heavier, but I just kept eating to comfort myself. A vicious and unhealthy cycle. It was the only thing that provided any comfort in the situation, and food did not judge or humiliate me.

"I'm now older and wiser and thanks to my Slimming World family, have found the tools I need to help myself. I just really want to help anyone else out there, of any age that has or is currently going through anything similar. I've been there myself, and I wish I had someone willing and able to help me when I was 14".

Laura explains: "My general health through my 20's was terrible, picking up colds and infections on a weekly basis and because of this, I was struggling to hold down a job."

On top of the colds etc, Laura's feet would swell up so much she could not even put her shoes on, and she would have to take time off from work.

Laura added: "I've never been so embarrassed in my entire life, I felt like I was back in high school telling my teacher the dog had ate my homework, it felt ridiculous and I felt so ashamed, I didn't see a way out.

"My social life was suffering too! I am such a friendly outgoing person who was always up for doing things, but at my heaviest I did not feel comfortable or confident in anything I wore.

"Getting ready for an occasion was a nightmare! I'd end up in tears and just wouldn't want to leave the house, like I physically couldn't leave the house - I felt trapped in a body I simply didn't identify with."

Laura is positive that being overweight was the reason she had these health issues as after losing an initial two stone her overall health improved dramatically, and now 6st 11lb lighter no longer suffers with swelling or weekly colds and flu.

She adds: "I was tired of being relegated to the plus-size shops, I couldn't go into a regular high street store for anything other than jewellery and they would cost a lot more money.

"It was really getting me down. Not only was my pocket suffering big-time each time I needed something new, but my health and mental wellbeing was suffering along with it."

When she was 19, she was in a very serious car accident, which totally changed her perspective on life: "It made me realise I needed to do something about my lifestyle. It made me appreciate my life, and I wanted to get healthier, not for anyone else, but for me.

"I needed to start thinking about myself for a change, and allow myself to feel unhappy rather than trying to pretend I was okay with my size and brush it off - I'm just big boned I'd kid myself - but I knew this wasn't strictly true."

Like a lot of people wanting to shed the pounds Laura started by trying to follow a variety of different diets, lotions and potions which promised fast weight-loss, which resulted in her feeling beaten and deflated after each one.

Laura continued: "Every diet works, I'd lose weight, but didn't find the strict routines sustainable long term! I would always get fed up with restricting what I ate so rigidly, and I could not stand going hungry. I love my food! Restricting my food intake just made me feel like I was missing out on what I enjoy.

"Finding Slimming World changed that forever, as it encourages us to eat as much as we like, when we feel like it. It really educated me about food, and my relationship with it and myself as a slimmer.

"A lot of those strict diet habits I've picked up throughout my life have gone out of the window because they are quick fixes for quick results, but do nothing to support you to keep the weight off long term.

"I've learnt how to make better choices regarding what I eat and how I move my body. I have learnt to listen to my feelings and discover my triggers and danger zones surrounding these too.

"The best thing for me is, I can still eat all of my favourite foods, nothing is a 'no'. I can eat out with friends & family, enjoy Christmas dinner, or a drink or two – it's great!"

Laura had always convinced herself that she could lose weight on her own, that it would be cheaper for her to do it by herself without wasting money on joining a group!

She believed she did not have time and did not think she would fit in or how people would react to her weight.

Laura concluded: "I felt alone because of my weight, so the idea of sharing something so difficult with a group of people seemed impossible, but I was looking at it from the wrong angle.

"I felt alone, because no-one understood, and in-fact a group of slimmers all doing exactly the same things was the missing puzzle piece, I just couldn't see for looking! I made a huge mistake not going earlier, but the fears I had were overwhelming!"

If you are still reading and can relate to any of the above at all, Laura would love to encourage you to be brave and take that first step.

She is always on hand to answer any questions, calm any fears you may have, and all of her team are on hand for an informal chat if you need any re-assurance.

For more information about our virtual groups supporting Congleton call, text, or WhatsApp any of your local Community Consultants;

Monday & Tuesday - Claire - 07723326845

Thursday - Kedren - 07702174155