By Pamela McGowan

Last updated at 11:55, Thursday, 16 August 2012

Elaine Morley is a different person after losing seven stones and dropping a total of eight dress sizes.

Elaine Morley

Weight loss has been more of a challenge for the 47-year-old because she suffers from diabetes and has to carefully balance her daily insulin levels.

She thought her condition would make it impossible to diet – but now hopes her success will encourage other diabetics to give slimming a go.

Elaine, of Winscale Way, Morton, Carlisle, has proved such an inspiration that members of her local Slimming World group this week voted her their Woman of the Year.

Married to Mike, Elaine is a full-time carer for their autistic daughter Kerry. She also has a son, Michael, and two grandchildren – Chloe, six, and Brandon, three.

She said her weight crept upn gradually after having children – reaching a size 28.

Initially she tried dieting on her own, but found it difficult to motivate herself or know what she could eat without upsetting her diabetes.

In February 2011 she started going to the St Aidan’s Slimming World group on Tuesday mornings. “I was terrified of going in there. The first time I went I was wearing a big T-shirt, big skirt and a coat. I had no confidence,” she said.

“But I had a friend, Liz Lennon, who’d lost five stones with Slimming World and she was my inspiration.

“I kept going and my confidence came back.”

Elaine swapped her regular diet of chips for a lower fat version and started eating a balanced healthy diet. She also ditched the car and started walking everywhere.

She reached her seven-stone target in May this year, dropping to an ideal size 12.

Elaine has also seen major improvements to her health.

“I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 13 so have been a diabetic for 34 years. Because of that I always thought I’d never be able to lose the weight,” she said.

“But Slimming World was a low fat, low sugar diet so it’s really good for you. I monitor my blood sugar a couple of times a day but since I started it I’ve actually been able to reduce my daily insulin.

“It’s really just healthy eating. My problem was that I used to fry too much food and didn’t do any exercise,” added Elaine.

“I started off just taking the dog out walking and building it up gradually. Now even the dog has lost weight.”

“I do dress differently now and feel a lot happier. People who haven’t seen me for a year don’t recognise me until I talk,”

First published at 11:27, Thursday, 16 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk