IWOULD like to congratulate mum June Hunter on losing five stones. I was overweight for 33 years. I used to eat lots of chocolate, crisps and anything else you can think of.

By the time I got married I was nearly 13 stone. And when I started having my children, I would put on another one or two stones on top of that.

I never used to go out much because of what people would say.

I have nothing against slimming clubs -- it is up to the individual, just like June. In 1999, I decided to start losing the weight and by October that year, the weight started to drop off.

I did it all on my own, with determination and willpower and had lost four stones, gone down four dress sizes by August last year.

It is all right losing weight. It is trying to keep it off that bothers me.

My husband deserves special thanks for his help and encouragement that he is giving me -- if it wasn't for him, I would put it all back on again and more.

JULIE DUCKWORTH (Mrs), Ravenglass Close, Blackburn.