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Before

Janet Ball is half the woman she was after losing more than 10 stones in a life-changing trans- formation.

Miss Ball, 39, from Rawthey Avenue, Didcot, was forced to ask for a seatbelt extension on a flight to Amsterdam five years ago, because it would not fit round her bulging belly.

At the time, she tipped the scales at 20 stones.

But after seeing a photograph of herself stood next to the Anne Frank statue in the Dutch city, she finally decided enough was enough.

Then a mammoth size 28, Miss Ball, a financial administrator at Milton Park, said: "It was like a lightbulb going off in my head and I decided I wanted to be healthy.

"It was literally a life-changing moment."

She followed a Weight Watchers diet for a couple of years before attending meetings and weigh-ins at the Malborough Club, in Didcot.

Coupled with jogging, cycling and exercise classes, two half-marathons and other charity runs, the weight began to fall off.

After

Now, at just over 10 stone, she weighs less than the amount she has lost - 145lb - and is down to a size 10-12 dress size.

She said: "It's just the confidence that comes from knowing you're normal.

"Everyone notices you when you're overweight.

"It has completely changed my life and I will never forget what it's like to be overweight.

"I'm quite happy to go out now for an evening. I have been told I look much younger.

"There's so much that comes with losing weight. As well as feeling much lighter, it has affected how I deal with people at work and how I feel about myself.

"I'm half the woman I was.

"I never used to have the confidence to go to tai chi, but now I've started doing that.

"Before, I was tired all the time and I was very conscious about being big.

"I had had enough and I wanted to change."

Miss Ball puts her success down to her experience of Weight Watchers, where she followed a healthy diet plan.

She also met her friend Alison Poffley, 32, at the club, who helped to inspire her.

Alison will be her chief bridesmaid at her wedding in October, when she marries fiancé David Humphrey on her 40th birthday.

Mr Humphrey said there were many cheers and tears when his fiancée reached her weight goal. He added: "It's an amazing transformation."

3:19pm Wednesday 9th April 2008

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