'I was eating myself to death - now I've lost over 18st'

Claire Kane was the 2025 Slimming World Woman of the Year. The investment analyst, 41, lives with husband Aaron, and children, Olivia, nine, and Sophie, six, in Plains, Scotland. A year on, she tells of her weight loss journey... "I squeezed my daughter Olivia’s hand as we reached the front of the queue for the Tron ride at Walt Disney World in Florida. ‘You ready baby?’ I said. She gave me a nod, beaming with excitement. My heart was full. I’d made it, finally, I was the mum I’d always wanted to be. "It was a million miles from our last family holiday in Blackpool two years earlier. I’d pictured myself, my husband Aaron and our girls Olivia and Sophie, making memories together. But at that time I weighed over 29st, and things were difficult. "At Sea Life, I had to keep sitting down while Aaron and the kids explored. And I didn’t even attempt Blackpool Pleasure Beach, despite desperately wanting to go. I felt like I was slowing my family down. "I’d started to put on weight in my early teens. By the time I went to high school, I’d gone from the smallest to the biggest in the class. When I met Aaron in March 2006, after many bad experiences with men, my self-esteem was on the floor – but he loved me for me. "After three-and-a-half years together, we got married and settled into a happy life. We both had busy jobs, so evening meals were quick and easy – battered fish and oven chips, or a pizza. Later, snuggled up in front of Emmerdale or Corrie, we shared a family-size bar of chocolate, then crisps. "One weekend I sat in my mum’s kitchen as she cooked a Sunday roast and I broke down. ‘Claire, I don’t want to upset you, but you’re killing yourself here,’ she said. As hard as it was to hear, I knew it came from a place of love. So when she told me that a Slimming World group had opened in our village, I was willing to give it a try. "Sharon, the consultant, gave me a warm welcome, and explained everything I needed to know about Food Optimising – eating filling foods that are low in energy density. I found out that if I cooked them the Slimming World way, I could still eat foods Aaron and I loved, like burgers and chips, and there was even room for chocolate! "Nine months later, after losing over 8st, I had some unexpected news – I was pregnant! In September 2016, Olivia was born, and I drifted away from the group and old habits slipped back in. Then in February 2020, another blessing arrived, Sophie, just as lockdown hit. "Without Slimming World, I regained the weight I’d lost. Then came that trip to Blackpool, the final straw. The minute we got back to Scotland, I made a promise to myself to rejoin Slimming World, with my little girls as my motivation. "In July 2025, I reached my target after losing more than 17.5st. The group cheered. Mum was thrilled. ‘I can’t believe how stunning you look,’ she texted. Then after losing another stone to achieve my new target weight, I was crowned Slimming World’s Woman of the Year 2025 – it was a moment I’ll remember forever. "I now weigh 10st 11 1/2lb. I went from sitting on the sidelines to going to the gym and dance class, and even have a go on the monkey bars at the park with my girls. And we ticked every ride off on that Walt Disney World trip." Claire's stats: - HEIGHT: 5ft 6ins (168cm) - STARTING WEIGHT: 29st 5lbs (186.4kg) - WEIGHT NOW: 10st 11½lbs (68.7kg) - WEIGHT LOST: 18st 7½lbs (117.7kg)