A Wyke woman is celebrating being cuddled by her 11-year-old daughter after overcoming illness and shedding more than three stone.

One year ago, Gillian Ward, 35, weighed 14 st 7lb after a series of operations to remove ovarian cysts and was at the lowest ebb in her life.

But determined to improve her weight and lifestyle, she joined a slimming club in Allerton last May and her weight has plummeted to just over 11 stone.

"I never imagined that nine months later I would have been standing up in class to receive my three stone award," she said.

"I'd had a large ovarian cyst about 13 centimetres across and it was causing ballooning and making me really swollen. I had major surgery last January and I realised from then on that my weight was a problem if I didn't try to do something about it.

"It was the icing on the cake when a couple of weeks ago my daughter Sarah cuddled me and said: 'Mummy my arms meet now - they go all the way round you!'

"She's extremely delighted and keeps saying she's got a new mummy."

Gillian, a part-time customer service worker at Grattan, said she has a very busy lifestyle and cannot resist nibbling snacks in between meals.

But her new eating plan and weekly sessions at Slimming World at the Jack N Jills Private Function Room in Allerton have meant she can still enjoy a glass of wine and a few chocolates as a special treat.

"My whole life seems to have changed and eating is so much more fun," she says.

"I still enjoy a treat, but as well as feeling good, people now tell me I look good too."

suzy.poole@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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