ALTHOUGH she’d lost nearly two stone in weight, Rhonda Felton was thrilled when she started piling on the pounds again.

For Rhonda who had been desperately trying to start a family for several years, had finally discovered she was pregnant.

“I’d struggled with my weight since my early 20s. I’d tried every diet from ones that promised quick fix results to calorie counting every morsel that passed my lips.

“I lost a few pounds here and there but always gained the weight back and more.

“The emotional highs and lows that came with this constant yo-yo dieting were sometimes unbearable.

“From being positive one day to being angry and frustrated the next. My blood pressure was constantly high and I hated my body.”

The final straw came when Rhonda who lives her husband in Verwood, struggled to fall pregnant.

There were no medical explanations, but her doctor suggested trying to lose weight so she joined Slimming World which is the only national weight management club which supports members in pregnancy.

In just five months, Rhonda lost one and a half stone, her blood pressure had dropped to normal and then she finally had confirmation she was pregnant.

Once her long-awaited baby was born, Rhonda now 42, found herself battling her weight again.

“I’d put on three stone during pregnancy but I was convinced that once my baby was born I could go it alone. Ten months later she was still kidding herself and once her young son started on solids, his leftovers (including rusks and full fat mini yoghurts) became part of her daily diet.

“Although constantly on my feet, I wasn’t losing weight. I avoided looking at myself in the mirror and found it hard looking at any photos of myself even with my beautiful baby.”

Rhonda realised that she needed the support of a Slimming World group so she joined a Verwood group last September at 12st 6lb and has already lost two stone.

“I am so happy with my new life and feel fantastic,” she says. “I have all the energy I need to run around after my little boy.”

Now Rhonda is launching her own Slimming World group on Wedne-sday at 7pm at West Cliff Baptist Church in West-bourne.

“Losing weight really has changed my life and it could change so many others too”.

For details call Rhonda on 07875-686867.