SLIMMER Claire Parsons has turned her back on having gastric band surgery and shed 10 stone through hard work and determination.

Claire, 38, was 27 stone when she joined the Eldene branch of Slimming World last November with the intention of losing two stone, which would allow her to undergo a gastric band bypass.

Instead, her weight loss gained momentum and a year later she has made huge progress, being named the branch’s woman of the year.

“I was on crutches, using a motorised scooter and heading towards a wheelchair and knew something needed to be done so I wanted the bypass but I had to lose two stone first,” said Claire, from Eldene.

“I’d lost it and then decided to not have the procedure in February. I opted against it after speaking on Facebook to people from Helping Overcome Obesity Problems and I got in touch with a few people who had a terrible time with the bypass. So, given the progress I was making, I decided to carry on with Slimming World.”

Claire, who has hashimoto’s disease, a condition which affects the immune system and can lead to obesity, said that the group has helped to dramatically change her life.

“Unfortunately, if I wanted to drive again, I was going to need to make expensive adaptations to my car but thankfully I can now get behind the wheel because of the weight I’ve lost. And, that has made such a major difference to my life as I’ve been stuck within five miles of my house for the last four years or so,” she said.

“I’m able to stand up for so much longer. The main thing that Slimming World has done for me is that it has helped me gain control of my eating behaviour, gastric surgery is a tool to help you lose weight but it doesn't work 100 per cent unless there are other tools in place to help you learn about healthy eating.”

Claire is still continuing with the group and has targeted losing another eight stone. This will allow her to have knee surgery which will make a huge improvement to her mobility.

“I went to Slimming World as it was my last chance,” she said.

“I want to say a big thank you to the group for all their support and in particularly Lisa Clewes who runs the sessions.”

l For more information about the weight loss groups visit www.slimmingworld.com.