Kirsteen Kneeshaw, from Castle Douglas, was one of ten shortlisted for his year’s Slimming World’s Woman of the Year contest.
The 23-year-old’s weight has dropped from 17 stone 5.5 lbs in 2013 to a svelte 11 stone 4 lbs now.
And she was voted ‘inspirational’ by her fellow members at Castle Douglas Slimming World, who nominated her for the competition.
Kirsteen said: I’d tried losing weight before – I’ve done pretty much every diet there is – yet I always found the plans too hard to stick to because they left me feeling hungry and deprived, which made me miserable.
She credits the diet organisation with her success this time, adding: “I don’t have to go hungry and I’ve never once felt like I’m missing out on anything. Many of the changes I’ve made to the way I cook and eat have been small ones, but they’ve made a big difference to my weight.”
Thanking her fellow slimmers, she said: “The first time I walked into the group I felt very self-conscious and so nervous, everyone was really friendly though and made me feel really welcome.
“Now I look forward to it every week. We swap recipes and advice, and it’s a lot of fun. The best thing is great support though.”
Congratulating her, group leader Grant Ross said: “Kirsteen hasn’t only changed how she looks, she’s a different woman on the inside too. She’s blossomed into a happy, confident person and it’s been a pleasure to share in her journey.”
