A mother from Swansea has shared her remarkable weight loss journey after losing 11 stone to ensure she would not embarrass her son on his wedding day. Clare Howard, 48, from Waun Wen, weighed nearly 22 stone before deciding to join Slimming World ahead of her son Luke's wedding.
Through healthier cooking and regular exercise, she dropped from a dress size 26 to a size 10 in just over a year. By the time of the wedding in November, she had lost six stone and four pounds, and her son was proud of her transformation. She now weighs 10 stone and seven and a half pounds.
Clare, a former karate enthusiast, had given up exercise after a knee injury. Now, she exercises seven days a week and has returned to karate, with plans to compete again, including at the European championships in Denmark. She also climbed Snowdon, something she thought impossible when she was heavier.
She credits her success to Slimming World classes in Cwmbwrla, where she learned to cook healthier versions of her favourite meals, such as curries and breakfasts, using less fat and more vegetables. She is now looking forward to returning to work after focusing on her weight loss.
