Teacher Marie learns her lesson in losing more than nine stone after health shock

DEPUTY head teacher Marie Loftus felt like a star pupil for losing a whopping nine-and-half-stone after being inspired by the realisation that her weight was a huge health risk.

Marie, from Totton, burst into tears following a visit to her doctor last year who said tests had showed that, weighing in at 20 stone, the excess pounds were seriously harming her wellbeing.

“I feel incredibly lucky to have turned my health around, especially knowing the links between being overweight and more serious outcomes of Covid-19,” she said.

“I was having irregularities with some tests and the only way to stop them was to try and lose weight and decrease the percentage of fat in my body.

“I was also struggling to be as active as I wanted to be. I went to my doctor, cried and then walked out knowing that I needed to join Slimming World.”

She was true to her word. She joined the programme in January last year and 12 months later she has shed nearly half her weight – going from a size 24 to 14.

A delighted Marie said: “I was amazed, it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I soon fell into the way of cooking and eating more healthily and was losing weight week in, week out and picking up new ideas, recipes, and healthy habits along the way.

“I got a lot of support from my consultant Emma and the group.”

Before pledging to lose weight, Marie was already suffering with arthritis and struggling with her mental health.

She said: “The arthritis has improved greatly since losing weight. My mental health is also so much better as I am much more active and am making the most of every minute of each day.

“I also had some underlying women’s health issues which have been eradicated as a result of losing the weight.”

Marie said she had tried all her life to lose weight unsuccessfully before joining Slimming World which she was delighted to find included her favourite meals such as shepherd’s pie, pasta, and rice dishes.

Marie said she did struggle to keep motivated during lockdown but found exercise helped.

She said: “I take part in online Pilates and yoga classes. I also run 5k four times a week and do strength training twice a week along with cardiovascular exercises like body combat.”