A mother to two teenage girls who gained weight after a prolapsed disc limited her physical activity is to reopen the branch of Slimming World that helped her lead a healthier lifestyle.

Anne Berry is to be the new consultant of the Winchmore Hill Slimming World group she will run from the Old Grammarians Rugby Club, on Green Dragon Lane, Winchmore Hill, in January.

A qualified physiotherapist Anne decided to sign up to the slimming group in 2015 after seeing a photograph of herself at work wearing a Christmas jumper.

Anne lost half a stone in the first two weeks of joining Slimming World, and six stone over 18 months.

Anne, said: “The Christmas jumper day at work was the last straw.

“I was horrified that I had let myself get so large.

“I was struggling to bend down and getting out of breath climbing the stairs, but was terrified that my back problems would recur.

“Being a health professional and a mum to two teenage girls, I was also ashamed of the message I was sending out to people I cared about.”

On New Years Day in 2015 Anne went to her first Slimming World group meeting, and has since taken up regular exercise.

Together with a healthy eating plan, she started running using the Couch to 5k NHS podcast.

Since then Anne has run her first half marathon – in Brighton in February – and is training for the 2018 London Marathon to raise money for the Limbless Association.

She says that she has not had to give up her favourite foods, or a glass of wine and dessert when out with family and friends.

Anne, explained: “I’ve overcome a lifetime of believing I couldn’t run, and that I wouldn’t enjoy it.

“My weight also held me back so as I lost weight the running got easier.

“My family and friends support me in all I do and will all be there on Marathon day.

“At the Brighton half marathon my daughters ran the last mile with me, which was so fantastic and spurred me on over the finish line.

“I hate the gym although I go three times a week to aqua aerobics, so I wanted to try something different.

“After downloading the Couch to 5k podcast, I became addicted and run three times a week, if possible.”

To find out further information email Anne on slimwithanneberry@gmail.com.