Slimmer Alison Purvis-Gisborne has won a national award after losing a staggering 9st.
Alison, 36, a sports physiology lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, has been named the Rosemary Conley Online Slimmer of the Year after dropping from 20st to just under 11st.
She decided to lose weight because she felt embarrassed teaching about the human body due to her size. She was also suffering from high blood pressure.
She said: “Weighing 20 stone and lecturing others on how the human body responds to exercise made me feel embarrassed.
“I was horrified to discover how high my blood pressure was and realised I had to change to protect my health before it was too late.
“That early grave seemed a whole lot closer but I was given the chance to reduce it through weight loss rather than medication.
“I’ve had problems with my weight since I was a teenager but in the past five years it really started to pile on.”
She lost the weight by following the Rosemary Conley internet slimming club. She now exercises five times a week and is planning to take part in the London Marathon.
She added: “If I was struggling I’d post on the website’s forum and have live chats with other slimmers.
“My blood pressure is now at a healthy level but the biggest reward is knowing I now practise what I preach to my students, who now tell me how fantastic I look.”
Alison was presented with her award and £1,000 at a ceremony in London.