Doreen, 72, cruises way to a new shape

It's never too late to shape up and slim down – just ask great-grandmother Doreen Sykes.

The 72-year-old has dropped an amazing eight dress sizes and lost more than three-and-a-half stone in just 18 months.

While many her age might come complacent about piling on the pounds, the retired sub-post office worker was determined to look her best. It was while on a Caribbean cruise with husband Eddie that Mrs Sykes, of Delves, Walsall, realised she needed to battle the bulge.

"I was absolutely fed up with it," she said. "I felt really fat when I was dressed up."

And stripping off to shorts and a vest just made her even more depressed. Mrs Sykes, of Sycamore Road, mother to four, grandmother to eight and great grandmother to two, said she had tried diets before and lost weight, but always found the pounds creeping back on again.

But as soon as she returned home from holiday, she embarked on a new health regime. Out went bread, crisps and chocolate and instead, Doreen chose sensible meals of meat, chicken and vegetables.

After 18 months, she went from 13st 13lbs to 10st 5lbs, and went from a size 20 to a 12-14 - feeling better than ever and 10 years younger.

"One or two people are surprised when I say I am 72, but I think if you are determined, you are determined and will do it, regardless of your age," she said.

"I also knew I was going to need another knee replacement because I had already had the other one done, so it was a bit for vanity and a bit for health reasons.

"I must admit I was a bit disillusioned when I started because I was only losing a pound a week and some weeks I stayed the same."

Now she has the svelte physique she always wanted, adding that her husband of 53 years "thinks it's great", but said her family do not want her to lose any more weight.

Now she has decided that eating healthily is simply a way of life, and will continue attending her weight loss group, Success Slimming, every week.