Marie Callow decided to go on a diet when her husband walked out on her. She tells Ushma Mistry how she lost eight stone in total. First by putting herself on a diet and then with the help of a slimming club.

LESS than five months into her marriage and weighing more than 17 stone, Marie Callow's husband left her but instead of sitting at home feeling sorry for herself she decided to get slim.

The 27-year-old civil servant from Downley set herself the gruelling challenge of losing weight and getting fit after her marriage broke up.

She says: "My husband left me after only four and a half months of being married and it was then that I decided to pull myself together and kick-start my diet. That was the best thing that could have happened in my life and I will never look back."

Marie, who works for Wycombe District Council, did not join any slimming or health clubs as she was determined to do it herself, through her own willpower and self-discipline.

After losing more than five stones Marie found that her weight hovered around the 12 stone mark and she was finding it difficult to lose any more weight.

She adds: "I got stuck and I started to put some of the weight back on. I went to see my doctor and she gave me the telephone number for Jo Tucker who runs the Weight Loss Programme and told me to give it a go."

Marie decided to give Jo a call as she was determined to get to her goal weight of eight stone. The Weight Loss programme Jo runs is for 13 weeks and is made up of a combination of diet and exercise. The programme sets out all the food to be eaten during the course and includes a weekly meeting with Jo's full support.

Marie says: "I gave Jo a call and she asked me to go and see her. She talked me through the programme and explained how it worked, and I decided to join. She made it perfectly clear at the beginning that it was our choice to be there.

"Jo was wonderful. She was really supportive. Every time I lost a pound she would encourage me, no matter how little the weight loss was."

Marie has struggled with her weight since she was five years old but did not think her weight was an issue. She recalls: "For a number of years the weight just crept on, but I didn't care how big I was or what I looked like. My weight continued to escalate and I lost interest in what I looked like."

However since joining the programme Marie is just one stone from her target goal of eight stone. When she started the programme earlier this year she was 12 stone six pounds but now she weighs just nine stone.

The programme consists of one ready-prepared meal, two or three shakes and one portion of fruit and vegetables a day and regular exercise.

Her parents have fully supported Marie's determination to lose weight and are really proud of what she has achieved.

Marie says: "My parents are absolutely over the moon. They have seen me struggle but they have also seen me stick to it rigidly and they are really proud of me."

However, not everyone has been so supportive of her weight loss. Some of her friends have been really happy for her but others are finding it quite difficult to accept her new slim figure.

She adds: "Some of my friends haven't stopped commenting on how good I look but some of my friends who have issues with their own weight are finding it quite difficult, but I am now in a position to help those who are struggling by supporting them to do it too."

Her weight loss has not only boosted her morale and confidence. It has also made her a lot more active.

She regularly walks the 40-minute journey to work and back as well as taking part in three or four aerobics classes a week.

And she has taken up activities that she never thought she would do before she lost weight.

"I've taken up Salsa and Egyptian belly-dancing which I love."

She says: "I love being active. It's something that I have always enjoyed but now I am enjoying it even more."

For more information contact Jo Tucker at weightmatters@btinternet.com