Jane sheds half her body weight

But over the years her weight ballooned, and at her heaviest she tipped the scales

at 22 stone.

It was watching a programme about obesity and realising that with her high blood pressure she was living on borrowed time that finally gave her the kickstart she needed.

Less than two years later she has shed half her body weight, weighing in at 11 and a half stone.

Jane, aged 45, said: "I used to watch a lot of problems about obesity which got me thinking about my own health because I was the same size as some of these people on TV.

"I was knocking on diabetes door and I had high blood pressure so I started attending sessions once a week at Weight Watchers in September 2012.

"At first I was a bit wary because I had tried various groups to shift the weight before and none of them had worked.

"At my heaviest I was really depressed and I hated myself but my leader Beverley (CORR) Longsden, was absolutely brilliant and she really boosted my confidence which helped me lose the pounds."

Miss Mason, who works as a cook at Burntwood Leisure Centre, used to live on takeaways of fish and chips and Chinese and convenience food such as frozen pizzas.

But now she has turned her life around and enjoys eating fruit and vegetables, wholemeal bread and brown rice and pasta.

She also exercises by going for a walk every day and completing a three-mile trek each week.

"I struggled to walk up the stairs before and I would gorge on bad food as a way of comforting myself for how I felt," said Miss Mason.

"My diet and lifestyle has changed for the better and I feel a lot healthier for it and I've noticed a change in my mood.

"I used to suffer from depression and I was unemployed because I didn't have the confidence to go for an interview so I used to eat.

"I was worried people would judge me before they got to know me and think that I was lazy."

Miss Mason of March End Road in Willenhall wants to lose a further half a stone before reaching her target weight.

She said she could not have shed the pounds without the support of her family.

"When I look in the mirror I can't believe my eyes because it doesn't look like me staring back," she said.

Weight Watchers leader Beverley Longsden said Miss Mason was an 'inspiration.'

She added: "She is incredible and an example to anyone trying to lose weight because she has followed my advice and completely changed her lifestyle."