Doctor's warning inspired 18st Sheila to drop 16 sizes

A warning from a doctor, who said her fatty diet had left her liver as damaged as an alcoholic's, was the turning point for 18st 101b Sheila Robinson.

From that moment on, she cut back on her favourite naughty foods and started exercising regularly.

Now, super slimmer Sheila has dropped from size 26 to a slinky size ten in just four years - and celebrated reaching her target weight of 10st 7lb in time for her 36th birthday last week.

She said after years of only being able to shop from specialist online stores and catalogues, she now loves nothing more than a good shopping spree in Next or River Island.

"I must have spent hundreds of pounds replacing all my clothes," said Mrs Robinson, of Knowle Hill Road, Netherton.

"I never went into these shops before as I didn't want to feel embarrassed. I love being able to get clothes from high street shops, they are much cheaper as well."

She said she hadn't realised how big she had become until she was weighed in hospital while her son had his tonsils out.

"I was horrified - I had no idea," she said. "Then I had blood tests and a doctor told me the state of my liver was indicative of someone who drank an excessive amount of alcohol. As

I don't drink he said it was down to the excess fat in my liver and my organs."

The mother-of-three is now helping to lead WeightWatchers classes at the Station Hotel, Dudley.

She said her children had encouraged her throughout the long weight-loss programme. "My daughter will ask "do you really want that, mum?" if I'm picking up something naughty and my youngest son, who is nine, keeps hugging me and commenting how he can get his arms all the way round," she said."

Civil service worker Sheila said before she started dieting, a typical day would kick off with a large bowl of cereal, followed by three to four rounds of toast.

She would often skip lunch in favour of lots of cups of tea with biscuits, with chips a regular part of her teatime meal.

She would then snack throughout the evening on crisps, chocolate and sweets.

Nowadays, she has a bowl of porridge for breakfast, with fruit or a yoghurt if she gets hungry.

She makes sure she has a healthy lunch such as a salad, soup or ham sandwich and filling but a low-fat tea, such as a jacket potato with chicken and vegetables.