Sherry pulls on her size 14 jeans after losing 7 stones

Twelve months ago Sherry Hattan decided that she wanted a new look. Fed up with her bulky frame she set about changing her whole appearance by joining a weight watchers group in Otley.

One year on and the results are staggering. Sherry is a mere shadow of her former self after shedding an incredible seven-and-a quarter stones and she can wear a pair of size 14 jeans again.

And now the woman who once weighed stone has set herself a new objective - to shed the remaining 20 pounds which will take her down to her target weight of under ten stone.

Sherry, who attributes her success to the unique system of points used by Weight Watchers, is delighted to be down to a size 14 dress size.

She has said her confidence has increased and she feels lots healthier after shedding the pounds, so much so, she gives husband Neil the runaround.

But she still doesn't like revealing how much she weighed before starting the points-based diet - not that Sherry from Albion Street, likes the term 'diet'.

"I don't think diet is a good term, because that implies a start and a stop date," she said.

"The routine I use is more of a lifestyle than a diet, because I just substitute one thing for another.

"I used to eat a lot of Pringles crisps, but now I can munch a packet of French Fries a night because they are only one and a half points per packet."

Sherry's diet, or routine, involves being allowed a limit of 22 points a day.

She can have whatever she likes to eat, as long as she works the points out first and doesn't go over her limit.

But because Sherry is a vegetarian, a lot of her favourite foods contain no points.

Salads and vegetables are 'free', and a lot of other foods are only one or half a point.

She said: "I eat lots of vegetables and salads to stop me being hungry, and that way I don't snack on bad things.

"Because of that I never feel hungry, but I do sometimes get Munchies, but then I eat something with only a few points.

"It's amazing, because I probably eat more than before, but I just eat more healthily and I make sure I have my five portions of fruit and vegetables a day."

Sherry added that going to the weekly meetings was great support for people determined to lose weight.

She said: "The support is fantastic and the leader of the class is brilliant.

"The whole thing is very dignified, and often we have a great laugh about the traumas we've been through in the past week when some of us have had a bad week."

Sherry set herself one main goal when she set out - to fit into a pair of size 14 jeans.

And now 12 months after starting the health plan, Sherry is wearing her favourite jeans, and she's not even reached her goal weight yet.

She said: "I feel so proud of myself, and people around me do too. Myworkmates see me every Wednesday morning after my class and they look forward to finding out how much weight I've lost.

"Everyone's been so supportive, my husband, colleagues and friends, as well as people at the meetings."

Although Sherry has had to change her lifestyle, it has definitely been a turn for the better.

Apart from the enormous confidence boost it has given her, Sherry said the best thing about losing so much weight is the shopping spree she went on as the pounds dropped off.

"One of the bonuses is that for the past ten years I have been going into Leeds and shopping at Evans.

"Now I can go into any shop, so I'm constantly in Dorothy Perkins and Principles.

Sherry isn't the only one who is pounds lighter as a result of her success. "My husband Neil isn't too happy at all the money I've spent, he says it's an expensive job to lose weight!" she said.

Not only does Sherry feel more confident, but she has said she feels healthier and fitter.

"I feel so much better now. Losing weight has an effect upon heart rate and cholesterol and I feel brilliant now.

"I have so much more energy now, and I am always running around everywhere.

"I used to be not bothered about things, someone would ask me to do something, but I just couldn't be bothered, but now I offer to do things, and I run about."

Sherry is also encouraging other people to join up to the meetings, and has introduced two of her friends to the sessions in Otley.

She said: "I'd encourage anyone to do it. The Weight Watchers' way is so easy because it's so flexible, and that's what I wanted.

"I've got very good at reading the back of packets of food to work out how many points they are and it's just a way of life now, there's nothing I can't eat.

"The meetings are excellent because the support is vital, but it keeps you going - there are such incentives, too, which is a great help."

Incentives include the awarding of silver sevens, trophies that signify that a person has lost half a stone.

Sherry said she has quite a collection of the silver sevens now, and when she lost 50 pounds she received £50, and then at 100 pounds, she was awarded £100.

"I've got lots of silver sevens and the incentives are great. It always helps to get that bit further when there's something to motivate you.

"It can be a bit daunting to lose a lot of weight at once, but doing it bit by bit and going down dress sizes makes it easier."

Sherry's success story is bound to inspire lots of people to have a go, and Audrey Wilson, of Otley Weight Watchers, said: "Sherry's a lovely person.

"Her personality and confidence has altered tremendously, she had a wonderful time over Christmas. Although she lost the weight over a year, she did it very healthily. The plan is all about substituting bad foods for good, or reducing fat."

Audrey is the leader of the meetings, and she travels to Ilkley, Addingham and Burley-in-Wharfedale as well as taking meetings in Otley.

She said: "It's not cutting out, it's cutting down. When people put cooking oil in a pan, they just pour it in.

"Instead of putting tablespoons worth of oil in, just put a teaspoon in, and it will still do the same job.

"Losing weight can be done, and it can be simple. Programmes like Fat Club make losing weight look like a punishment, but it's not, it can actually be great fun."