NOT ONLY has Helen Bartlett from Tavistock gone from a 22 to a 12 in dress size, her health has also improved dramatically and it's all thanks to her teenage daughter.

Helen no longer has pains in her knees or indigestion and her regular asthma attacks have reduced.

A push in the right direction was all she needed and it was Helen's daughter who decided to go to Slimming World to lose some weight because she had high blood pressure — so mum came too!

The pair went along to their local Slimming World group in the United Reformed Church in Tavistock. Helen had tried other diets in the past but they had not been that effective.

She had not felt brave enough to go to the group before but she was welcomed with open arms, given support and food ideas and plenty of motivation.

Helen left the group saying to herself she would plan for her first week, shop and give the 'diet' six weeks. She soon realised that there was no extra expense, no gimmicks, no special food, just plenty of fruit, veg, pasta, lean meat and fish — in fact, not a diet but a healthy eating plan.

Her first week led to Helen achieving a 4.5lb loss, and she is still attending the group having reached her target weight, Helen has now lost more than five stones.

She said: 'I set out to achieve six weeks of slimming but as soon as I started it was so easy I kept going.

Helen remains a planner, attending the group every week to help others and said: 'I have a folder of all my favourite meals, and my herbs and spices stock is second to none.

'It's my night out, we have such fun, and it's lovely when new members join and I see them succeed as I have.'

For information on Slimming World in West Devon call Tracy (Tavistock) 01822 610622 or Vicky (Okehampton) 01837 840886.