PICTURES: Darwen mum loses a THIRD of her body weight

Kim Murphy lost 6st 12lbs to make it to the Slimming World Woman of the Year finals.

The 34-year-old from Darwen weighed nearly 18st before joining the weight-loss group.

She found simple tasks too much and got out of breath doing household chores.

But after giving up white bread and cooking with lots of oil and starting cycling and boot camp classes, the weight started to drop off.

And her dramatic weight loss earned her a place at the Woman of the Year finals where she met former EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street star Jamie Lomas.

She said: “Everything just felt like such a struggle. Simple tasks would become massive chores because I’d get out of breath so easily, and having so much weight to lose just felt like a huge battle.

“After I joined Slimming World it was as though my eyes were completely opened and I found a new way of eating that easily fit around my life. What made it even easier was that I could still enjoy the same meals as my friends and family.

“Old favourites like­­­­­­­­­­­ chilli are all still on the menu, I just prepared and cooked them differently and opted for the healthier option.

“The changes I’ve made were so simple, little things like switching white bread for wholemeal and using low-calorie cooking spray instead of lots of oil.

“Losing weight has encouraged me to think about how active I am too, so I’ve taken up cycling and take part in regular boot camp sessions.”

Jamie, who also appeared on I’m a Celebrity, said: “I think Kim looks absolutely fantastic. She’s done amazingly well to change her life around like she has.

“She seems so full of confidence now.”

Ian Bunney, who runs Kim’s weight-loss group, said: “Kim is a wonderful asset to our group. Her remarkable transformation has inspired so many of her fellow slimmers, so we feel very lucky to have her.

“The change on the outside is plain to see, yet she has changed so much on the inside, too.”

For information, call Ian on 07743 499292.