A FARNWORTH woman is starting the new year with a spring in her step after she lost nine stones.

Lisa Kirkham, aged 42, began her weightloss journey several years ago when she weighed 18st 10lb, and she recently recorded her lowest ever weight of at 9st 10lb.

She puts her huge achievement down to determination, retraining her brain and attending regular WeightWatchers classes Lisa described the moment she realised she had to change. She said: “I have always been big, but then one day I was sitting in Hope Hospital and I looked down and had folds and folds of skin — that was the moment I knew I wanted to do something about it.”

Lisa embarked on her quest at WeightWatchers meetings, firstly in Westhoughton and then in Farnworth.

She said: “I couldn’t have done it without the classes, and the group leaders — Brenda Costello at Westhoughton and Francine Sheridan at Farnworth — have been incredible, they are my WeightWatchers family.”

The mother-of-two said she feels like a different person and her family have noticed a real change in her.

“I have got so much more energy these days,” she said. “I went to see family in Ireland recently who I hadn’t seen in a while and they were really shocked.”

Francine, who runs the WeightWatchers meetings at the Farnworth Social Circle Cricket Club, in Piggot Street, said: “Lisa has lost a fantastic amount of weight and I know the support she has received from our meeting has helped, and the support she gives to others is amazing, we are all so proud of her.

Francine has lost 67lbs, a goal she has maintained for 13 years.

Lisa, who has done two half-marathon walks as well as several 5km runs, said anyone who wants to lose weight should be patient and determined.