It helped her regain her identity and confidence after having two children.

Eastern Daily Press: Kimberley Cuthbert-Black pictured in July 2015 when she weighed approximately 11 and a half stone. She was a dress size 18 at the time. Picture: RICHARD BLACKKimberley Cuthbert-Black pictured in July 2015 when she weighed approximately 11 and a half stone. She was a dress size 18 at the time. Picture: RICHARD BLACK (Image: RICHARD BLACK)

And after losing two stone and dropping five dress sizes in five months, Kimberley Cuthbert-Black, 35, from Loddon, has started a new Slimming World group in Thorpe St Andrew.

The weekly session is open to anyone and takes place at the Saints Event base, formerly Thorpe St Andrews Social Club on Yarmouth Road, from Monday January 15.

Mrs Cuthbert-Black, who has two boys aged four and five, was size 18 before joining Slimming World but has returned to her pre-baby size eight.

She said: 'It took me the best part of three years to realise I was losing my identity. Subconsciously I must have hated the sight of myself as looking back we didn't put any mirrors into the house for a long time.

'I was so tired and trying so hard to meet the needs of all the family but my own that I barely noticed that I had been wearing only maternity wear for over three years.

'I felt broken in every way but I accepted my lot and gave all my clothes below a size 12 to charity believing it was unrealistic to think I would ever be able to wear them again.'

She said motherhood caused her to feel 'lost at sea'.

Mrs Cuthbert-Black added her 'zest for life was pretty low' following her weight gain.

As a result, walking up and down the stairs caused her joint pain and she feared the onset of early arthritis and exercise was difficult.

The mother-of-two said: 'Losing the weight has made a huge difference. I took it for granted that I'd put on the weight since the pregnancies. I thought this was how it was going to be. I thought the aches and pains were part of the course.

'The weight loss has given me a confidence to me more conscious of myself rather than everyone else in the family.'

She added her family benefitted from her confidence boost.

Call Mrs Cuthbert-Black on 07948105709 for details on the new group.