A Winsford mum lost a staggering 11 stone after going out of her way to avoid looking in the mirror.

Joanne Sanderson, 29, knew she had to do something about her weight when she struggled to find the right clothes to suit her age, and did everything she could to avoid seeing her reflection.

After tipping the scales at nearly 22 stone, Joanne, a mum of 10-year-old twin boys, decided enough was enough.

Joanne Sanderson of Winsford before losing 11 stone
Joanne Sanderson of Winsford before losing 11 stone

She decided to take her boys swimming at Winsford Lifestyle Centre but was so embarrassed about how she looked that she didn’t even want to leave the changing room.

Eventually Joanne did get into the pool and shortly afterwards, joined the centre’s Member Journey Programme, taking part in fitness workouts in the gym and group fitness classes under the guidance of Brio Leisure’s fitness team.

She said: “I hated seeing my reflection. If ever I went shopping for clothes, I could never find the right styles for my age that fitted me.

“The day I realised just how big I’d become was when I went shopping for a new coat and a size 24 was too small for me.

“My size made me feel horrible and very unattractive,” she added.

Ten months later, Joanne is preparing for a summer holiday abroad and has bought a bikini for the first time in her life.

She’s shed nearly 11 stone and slimmed to a trim size 10-12 dress size.

“When I first went to Brio I literally had no confidence. I was in the changing room for 20 minutes plucking up the courage to get into the pool.

“But after a couple of sessions in the centre I booked my Member Journey personalised programme in the gym with Lee Kimber, one of the centre’s fitness instructors, and that turned out to be the best decision I could have made.

“He worked with me not only on my fitness but my confidence showing me how to push my body to get the results that I wanted.

“Now I feel amazing. I have so much more energy for the family and now look forward to going shopping and am really excited about our beach holiday.

“People have even walked past me in the street and not recognised me.

“I never thought I could do this or look and feel as great as I do.”