This woman lost an incredible 12 STONE to fulfill her mum’s dying wish

Laura Raines was given an ultimatum by her mum when she was on her deathbed - to get healthy for her own children...

Laura Raines was left bereft after the death of her beloved mother from cancer.

Laura, 40, was so close to her mum - so when she passed away after a long battle with cancer, she was completely destroyed.

But the mum from Warwick, who at her heaviest weighed 24st 11lbs, was able to turn the tragic experience into a positive.

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She says: "Many years ago my mum was diagnosed with cancer.

"When she became really ill she spoke to me about my weight and being around for my own children. It was the last thing she asked me to do."

Laura did not feel able to try anything for a while as she was understandably not ready, but after a friend encouraged her to go to Slimming World with her last January, she took the "perfect opportunity" and tried it out.

She says: "If I'm honest I never believed it would work. I tried diets before but always gave up when I didn't get the results I wanted."

Laura, who lives with her partner Darren Ricketts, 42, was sceptical about going to Slimming World, and confessed that she was terrified of being judged by other people.

She explains: "I was very nervous about going to the meetings. I hated walking through those doors thinking everyone was looking at me or laughing thinking 'God, look at the size of her'."

Thankfully, Laura was able to push through her insecurities, and in her first week lost an impressive 6lbs, followed by 4lbs the next week and a further 10lbs the week after that.

She says: "I've been lucky with my journey, it's been good to me. Nearly every week losing more made me more determined to continue.

"The hardest part I would say is going for meals out and having to ask the staff 100 questions to make sure I stay on plan and a few times I've had people ask if I'm ill because the weight loss is so extreme."

Laura has so far lost an incredible 11st 8lbs in the space of one year, and thinks her mum would be so proud.

She says: "I can't put into words how proud my mum would be. She was an amazing lady and this amazing thing I have done was not only for me but for her too."

Laura's family have been hugely supportive, with her partner Darren even cooking the Slimming World meals for her.

Laura, who has dropped from a size 28 to a 14, explains: "I feel amazing. It's funny when I'm walking past shop windows getting a glimpse of myself and suddenly realising 'oh that's me'.

"It makes me speechless and the friends I made along the way and the support from the group is amazing."

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