All smiles as slimmers lose their spare tyres

And for one happy group of slimmers from the Black Country, they have done just that.

Around 130 members of the Oldswinford Slimming Word Group, in Stourbridge, lost a staggering 61 stones - equivalent to 43 car spare tyres.

The group took on the Slimmer Summer Challenge over the space of six weeks, set by group consultant Kerry Morgan.

So it was an end to ready meals, snacking on chocolate bars at work and and trips to fast food restaurants.

Instead, in came home-cooked meals, fruit and vegetables and more exercise aimed at banishing the bulge.

Sandra Jones, a 50-year-old mother-of-two, once weighed around 16st and wore clothes up to a size 24 around three years ago. But after finding herself out of breath doing basic tasks she said she wanted to change her habits and live healthier.

From gorging on white bread and drinking too much whole milk, she changed to wholemeal and skimmed milk. More fruit and vegetables make up meals at lunchtime and gone are crisps and biscuits for snacks.

And ready meals are a thing of the past at dinner time in favour of home cooking including meals consisting of chicken and rice.

Mrs Jones, who works as a home help carer, says her healthier lifestyle has seen her lose 4st 9lbs over the past two years and is now a size 14.

Her husband Martin, 53, has also been inspired by her and decided to take up his own healthy regime - losing three and a half stone.

"It has been brilliant and everyone has been so supportive," said Mrs Jones, who lives at Queensway, Pedmore, Stourbridge.

She now takes part in drama classes at Wordsley Amateur Dramatic Society and helps runs a rainbow and brownies group in Wollaston.

Jude Clarke, 37, from Nagersfield Road, Brierley Hill, says her confidence has been transformed thanks to the group's support in helping her get fit.

Once 13st and a size 18, two years after joining the group she is down to 10st and a size 10.

The officer worker said: "It has given me so such more confidence. My asthma was playing up and I realised that I needed to get more healthy.

"Optimising my food and my diet has been the main things to help. We are allowed to have whatever we want, in moderation."

She says cooking has become something she enjoys and now makes meals like lasagne. She says her parents John and Lynn have also started eating healthier meals inspired by her success.

Fellow group member Lynn Lacey joined three years ago when she weighed around 21st.

She said she wanted to improve her quality of life and get around easier.

Now she is 13 and a half stone and also signed up her husband David, 62, to take part in sessions.

"It has helped us as a family to do it. He has done well too and lost weight," said Mrs Lacey who has two children and three grand children.

She lost around 6lbs in the summer weightloss challenge.

Kerry Morgan said: "As the weather gets warmer, we can't hide behind our layers and baggy clothes so we want to look and feel our best.

"However, the summer months can be a difficult time for slimmers because our normal routines are usually disrupted with holidays, the kids are off school and we're busy enjoying days out, meaning it can feel harder than usual to eat healthily and fit in activity."

Members from the group are also raising funds for the Georgina Unit at Russells Hall Hospital by getting more active, through sponsored walks, runs and bike rides and hope to raise £3,000 by the end of the year.

The group meet each Wednesday at St Mary's Church in Oldswinford from 4pm.