TRICIA Norris knew she had to do something if she wanted to carry on racing around the Isle of Wight after moving around a boat travelling at speed had started to feel dangerous.

“I realised at the end of the sailing season something had to change if I wanted to continue,” she said.

“While my size wasn’t so noticeable while sailing for pleasure, as this is a more leisurely pursuit, my mobility on the boat during races had become a real concern due to my weight.

“It made me very aware that I was becoming a liability to the rest of the crew and was a nasty accident waiting to happen – which of course I didn’t want.”

This was the wake-up call Tricia needed as she couldn’t face giving up the sport she loved, so she decided to join her local Slimming World group.

She wore size 18 to 20 clothes and weighed in at 14 stone and 7lbs on her first night.

“I’d tried to lose weight on my own so many times,” explained the 63-year-old from Regents Park.

“So for me the support I got from going to a group full of like-minded people was the most important thing.

“It all started with the feeling that you’re not alone.

“I couldn’t have lost my weight without that weekly help, encouragement and understanding.”

Tricia swapped a diet of bread, cheese, chocolate and takeaways washed down with copious pints of lager for home cooked meals, including lots of lean meat, rice, pasta and potatoes.

Just over a year later she was a svelte size 12 and down to 10 stone 7lbs.

“I couldn’t believe I’d found a way to do it without starving myself,” she added. “If anything I was eating more than I had in the past as I would usually skip lunch most days!”

Tricia was so inspired by her own weight loss that she became a Slimming World Consultant, with a group at Regents Park Community College, but for her it wasn’t just about the food.

“I never dreamed that I would end up helping other people to lose weight.” she said.

“It’s been a real privilege for me to be able to pass on the experience, insight and understanding that helped me, so that I can give my members the support they need to get to target.

“It isn’t just about changing what you eat - becoming more active is important too.

“People can build activity into their daily routine without having to take up traditional forms of exercise like going to the gym or running.

“Everything counts, from walking the dog to washing the car, but for me it had to be sailing – I love it!”