Burnley mum launches slimming group after shedding five stone (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Burnley mum launches slimming group after shedding five stone

8:00pm Saturday 1st September 2012 in News By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

A MUM-of-two who lost a whopping five stone is inspiring others to shed the pounds by launching her own slimming group.
Sam Morris, 40, from Burnley, was shocked when she stood on a weighing machine and tipped the scales at almost 15 stone.
But now, thanks to 12 months of Slimming World classes, she weighs a svelte 10 stone.
Sam, who lives with husband Jason, daughter Scarlet, 15, and son Blake, 12, in Ightenhill Park Lane, said she decided to join a slimming group after weighing herself with friends in Burnley town centre a year ago.
“From an early age, I’d always thought that I was destined to be overweight. I've struggled with my weight since my early 20s," she said.
Then, at age 23, Sam's brother died.
She said: “It absolutely knocked me for six. I was so grief stricken.
“I turned to food for comfort and the weight just piled on and on. I was on a downward spiral and I was out of control. I just ballooned.”
When Sam joined Slimming World she was often out of breath when walking, and was suffering from lower back pain.
She said that under Slimming World’s food optimising she was still able to eat her favourite foods, such as Sunday roasts and a full English breakfast.
She added: “It was mainly the in-between meal snacks I had to cut out, crisps, chocolate, snacks.”
Food optimising encourages dieters to freely eat foods that are lower in calories but high in nutrients such as pasta, lean meat, rice, fish, fruit and veg, whilst limiting calorie-packed foods that are nutrient-poor such as biscuits and booze.
Now she is keen to help others take off the pounds after her amazing transformation.
Sam, chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Carers’ Service, said: “I just want others to feel how fantastic it is too lose weight, still enjoy a takeaway and all my favourite treats. The plan is simple and it works. I have been there, done it and got the figure, and I feel amazing.”
The opening night of her group takes place at Haggate Baptist Church, Burnley Road, Haggate, on September 5 from 7.30pm.