An Ingrow woman whose life was dramatically changed by losing weight has begun training to become a fitness instructor.

Kirsty Slater’s confidence rocketed after she lost 7st 1lb in just seven months after joining a Slimming World class.

When she weighed 19st 11lb, she used to dread going out, and on the rare occasions she did, she often dashed back home in fear.

But after joining her mum for weekly sessions at the class in Wilsden, as well as a zumba sessions, Kirsty is changing her life.

She gave up her insurance adviser job and was yesterday due to start a 24-week fitness instructors’ course at Shipley College.

Kirsty said: “I had a form of mild agoraphobia that kept me away from friends – it caused me to have panic attacks.

“It was fear of having a panic attack around someone else, and what people thought of me.”

Kirsty is married to Andrew and has two children, Connor, three, and 11-month-old Freya.

She had a difficult pregnancy with Freya, starting with hypertension straight away and suffering pre-eclampsia from 19 weeks.

Kirsty said: “The hospital said it could have happened anyway but I thought it might be to do with my weight.

“I spent four out of seven days each week in hospital, which took me away from my son. I didn’t ever want to be in that position again.”

Kirsty joined the Slimming World class run by Diane Bell at Wilsden Primary School, which her mum, Lynn Iredale, already attended.

She added: “I was petrified. I told my mum to force me in the car. She was flabbergasted I would go along.

“Now I feel a lot better, a lot more confident. I’m able to hold conversations and speak to people more than I could do before.”

Diane said Kirsty embraced Slimming World’s food optimising eating plan. as well as taking up regular exercise.

Diane added: “Kirsty is an amazing inspiration to everyone who feels hopeless about their weight and can’t imagine life being any different.

“She is a totally different person, both physically and mentally. She’s chatty and outgoing, and is one of our exercise experts.”