Slimming friends are weight-loss winners

When slimmer Janet Edwards slipped on the wedding dress she wore to marry husband Frank 44 years ago, she knew she had reached a milestone.

Just 18 months ago Mrs Edwards, aged 63, of Edward Street, Cannock, wore size 26 clothing, but after shedding six stone through dieting and exercise the grandmother of seven looks just as good in the gown as she did in 1965. "There is no way I would ever go back," she said. "My life has changed. I enjoy all forms of exercise, I go on my exercise bike for 45 minutes every night."

These days Mrs Edwards, who now wears a size 16 to 18, can regularly be spotted walking on Cannock Chase with her three dogs, Ellie, Cassie and Indy.

The 63-year-old said she was motivated to keep going with her weight loss.

"My daughter Sally will be 38 this year, and a couple of weeks ago she told me she had never seen me looking so slim in her life," she said.

"That just gave me such a boost."

Mrs Edwards is not the only success story in her Cannock-based Slimming World group.

Fellow slimmer Margaret Edgington, aged 58, has dropped more than five stone in a little over a year.

Mrs Edgington, who lives in Devon Road with her husband Trevor, has gone from a size 26 to a size 20, and is now working towards a goal size of 14.

"I've got so much more energy," she said.

Mrs Edgington said her extra energy comes in handy when it comes to playing with her two-year-old granddaughter.

"Ruby will be three this year and she's obviously very active, so it's nice to be able to keep up with her.

"My family have all been really supportive," she added.

Consultant Anne Cann said member Judy Morby had also shed four stone since joining the group just over a year ago.

Mrs Morby, aged 64, of Chapel Square in Cheslyn Hay, said: "The doctor referred me because I needed to lose weight for my health," she said.

"It's definitely had a big impact on my life, you feel like you want to get out."