TOPPING the scales at more than 20 stone, Melplash shepherd Sadie James lacked confidence and energy.

So when her doctor referred her to a slimming group for an NHS-funded 12-week course she jumped at the chance.

Now more than six and a half stone lighter, the 39-year-old has a new job and a new outlook on life.

She said: “It really has been life changing. I was self-employed as an agricultural contractor and I suppose I just got comfortable and the weight piled on.

She joined the Beaminster Slimming World group in February 2012.

Sadie said: “It works so well because you can fit it into your everyday eating, you can even have meals out.

“It has made a huge difference. I have a lot more energy, I have this job at Groves now and I would have struggled physically to do it had I still been big.

“I now have an incredible amount of confidence and I am not afraid of going out and socialising now which I was before. I wish I’d done it years ago.

“I’d recommend it to anybody and several of my friends have joined.”

And the best news is she can still eat loads of her favourite meal – curry.

“You just have to cook it a bit differently,” she said.

Sadie has dropped from a size 28 to a size 14.

Sadie’s consultant Becs King said it had only taken Sadie four weeks to lose 10 per cent of her body weight.

She said: “Sadie has been a true inspiration to all the members of the group, sharing her highs and the not-so-highs.

“Her weight loss has been so motivating that even members that had at times felt like giving up kept going and turned their own weight loss around.”

The group can be contacted on 01308 861486.

Another super slimmer’s success has made her determined to help others in Bridport.

Even though mum-of-three Debbie Ferris was forced to give up her job as a plus size model after she lost seven stone, she still believes it is the best thing she ever did.

The 56-year-old said: “I weighed 18 stone 3lbs and was a size 22 and a plus size model and now I’m a size 10.

“I know that I needed to lose weight for a happier life and I feel so much better in myself.”

Mrs Ferris achieved her target weight on the Cambridge Weight Plan (CWP) and has since worked to become qualified as an Independent Cambridge Consultant and has set up her Weight Loss Centre on West Street, Bridport.

For more details email debbieyvonneferris@hotmail.co.uk.