In her Trusted Contributor article for Nub News below, Biddulph resident Diane Meakin talks through her emotional weight loss journey, and explains how losing over seven stone transformed her life.

I'm over seven stone lighter than I was when I first started my weight loss journey.

If someone would have said that was possible for me when I was in the photo on the left, I would never have have believed it, because to feel how I felt at that time was so awful. I felt trapped in a body, and in a world of emotional pain - I'd never wish that upon my worst enemy.

The self loathing I felt when I looked in the mirror was only the tip of the iceberg. Words like ugly, fat, undeserving, useless, suicide, worthless, disgust, burden, vile, pig, cow - all these were my vocabulary on a daily basis.

I love food, I love drink, and I drank by myself to block everything out, so losing weight seemed impossible and a vicious cycle.

I'd eat for comfort, I'd binge eat, I'd reward myself with food and drink, and the drink became a real issue because it made me forget just for a while - but what about the next day, and the next day, and the next day, and so on?

Living was just so awful. Any of this sound familiar? I now know I'm not the only one.

I felt so alone, I felt like no one understood, and I couldn't see an end to the misery. My clothes were big, baggy and shapeless. I hated myself for not leaving the house and not going out when invited, so I ate more and drank more.

I had tried so many diets - including Slimming World - but I couldn't stick to anything because I didn't feel worthy enough. I was left feeling even more useless, broken, defeated. I felt destined to being an ugly and worthless carcass for the rest of my life, and if this was to be my life, I didn't want to be alive. But having my hubby, my boys and my granddaughter meant I had to just carry on with it.

I joined Slimming World because I had one of those light bulb moments after drinking myself into oblivion. It was when I looked at my granddaughter and thought: "If you're not going to do it for yourself, then do it for her."

So, in March 2016 I phoned my sister in law and asked her if I could go with her to the next group. But even though I had someone to go with, inside I was terrified: "Will everyone judge me? No one will like me."

I felt I'd be the biggest person there and that everyone would stare, and I'd be humiliated - how wrong I was.

I walked into that room to a warm, friendly welcome, from not only the consultant but the whole group. It was such a supportive atmosphere, and what can I say about my consultant? She was so amazing - and a little crazy - which I loved, and which put me even more at ease. She was just so happy I'd made that step through the door, and I've never looked back since.

I can look in the mirror and guess what? Looking back at me is a strong, healthy, confident, outgoing woman. I can go into any shop and pick up my size and wear absolutely anything I want to. And if I'm invited out, I go.

The first time I did go out was halfway through my weight loss journey, and none of my colleagues recognised me, not one of them! I received loads of flattering, positive comments.

I can do anything and go to anything my granddaughter wants me to. I can not only jog round the park with her but sprint to keep up with her on her bike as we're both laughing our heads off. I even ran The Potters 'Arf Marathon in June, something that I never in a million years could have even dreamt of.

Now I'm a Slimming World Consultant myself, and all I want to do is help others like me realise their dream. You all deserve it, and if you're only dreaming of reaching it you can make that dream a reality, just like I did and fall in love with yourself and your life all over again.