HEALTH 180 ° "I avoided diabetes by dropping 8 stone!"

I WAS ALWAYS LARGER than average, but I maintained a healthy range until I left school and passed my driving test. Then, a good social life meant I ate lots of convenience food and enjoyed drinking with friends. My weakness was carbs such as bread, pasta and noodles.

As the weight crept up, I hid how I felt behind my big personality and everyone assumed I was OK. But I hated being so big and felt incredibly self-conscious.

By the time I met Barrie in 2008 I was 6ft tall and weighed 19 stones. When