A TRIO of determined women have shared their inspirational weightloss stories and how they have fulfilled their dreams.

Hayley Janes Morris, from Oldham, joined Slimming World in 2015 after feeling insecure about images of herself on Facebook.

The 40-year-old said: "“When I saw photos of myself, I knew I didn’t look the way I wanted to.

"I dreamed of becoming a singer and with my youngest just starting school, I realised it was the right time. But I knew I had to feel more confident before I took the plunge as a performer and I recognised that going on a fad diet wasn’t the answer.”

After five months on the plan Hayley lost 1.5 stone and was already feeling more self-confident.

Hayley, who lost 3.5 stone overall, said: “The difference in the energy I had both physically and psychologically was literally life-changing. I started doing my first gigs and felt so comfortable in the spot light, I was even happy with all the photos people had taken! That’s when I knew I wanted to go on to help others achieve their goals.”

Now celebrating two years as a Slimming World consultant and with her singing career still going strong, Hayley has helped the two groups she runs achieve their weight loss goals with a combined weight loss of 419 stone in 2017.

A member of Hayley’s slimming group, Cathy McGeoghegan Shaw has lost eight stone with Hayley’s support and the incentive to make her family proud.

Cathy, from Shaw, said: “My nana died in April 2016 and that same week my dad was given the news that his cancer was terminal.

"A couple of weeks later, I delivered my nana’s eulogy squeezed into an outfit that fitted rather than complimented me. I felt so guilty that I wasn’t representing her properly as she was such a stylish lady.

“Two months after the funeral, I decided to join Hayley’s group as she is a shining example of what can be achieved. One year after Nana’s funeral I was delivering another eulogy, at Dad’s and this time, I felt proud to be up there.

“I have lost eight stone so far and now I don’t have to worry about fitting in the seats at restaurants or unflattering pictures on social media. My biggest highlight was going to New York in October, a dream that I never believed I’d be able to fulfill.

“Hayley was so supportive from the get go, she believes in every one of her members. I remember her asking me when I’d last felt comfortable. My eyes filled with tears as I told her ‘never - I’ve always been big’. Hayley made sure that I left that first meeting believing that I could make a difference. She was right, I lost eight pounds in my first week.”

Hayley added: “I’m so pleased with all the success stories from my group. But for me, it is not all about weight loss statistics or improving the way people look online; it’s about how those results benefit people and help them realise their own goals and happiness, just like Cathy’s story.”

Karen Woolfenden was so inspired by her Slimming World journey, during which she lost two stones, she has trained as a consultant and takes over the group at the Crossley Centre, in Denton Lane, Chadderton, on February 3.

She said: “Obesity is becoming such a huge issue across the UK. When I first joined Slimming World

as a member, I never dreamed that I would end up helping other people to lose weight but now I just can’t wait to get started.

Hayley runs groups every Wednesday at 10am and 7pm at Fusion in Royton. For more information please call on 07745 680 654.

Call Karen on 07595 421740 for further details on her group.