'My son saved up to buy me a present. I'll never forgive myself for what I did'

As a mum-of-five, Christine Connor spent years juggling the demands of parenting alongside a full-time job.

The 66-year-old, from the Gatley area of Stockport, found herself living off ready meals and convenience food as a result of her busy lifestyle.

But her unhealthy habits meant her weight soon spiralled out of control – eventually tipping the scales at 17st 4lbs.

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The gran-of-ten knew something had to change when she went shopping with her daughter and found the only outfit that fit her was a size 24.

“After my fifth child, I was very overweight,” she said. “I was working full time and running around after five children. I was living off ready meals and convenience food.

“This went on for years, but during that time, I put on more weight and stopped socialising as I was ashamed of how I looked and the fact I didn’t have the confidence to wear fitted clothing.

“I was so embarrassed. I knew I was overweight as I’d stopped buying clothes or going out, but I hadn’t realised I was a dress size 24. I was devastated.”

Ahead of renewing her 25th wedding anniversary vows, Christine decided to sign up for Slimming World along with one of her daughters.

“On finding out how upset I was (about my weight), my daughter told me, ‘I know how you feel, I feel the same way,’” the gran said. “I knew then that not only did I have to help myself, more importantly I had to help my daughter.”

Christine went on to shed a whopping five stone in just 18 months. She recalls feeling “buzzing” over the incredible weight loss.

But busy work commitments meant her group attendance dwindled. Noticing her weight was creeping up again, Christine