A woman who turned to comfort eating after the death of her mother has shared her weight loss tips after losing almost four stone.

Lorna Bean was the heaviest she had been by September last year, following the death of her mother after a long illness.

"Like many things I coped with her loss by eating," she said.

She describes the moment that a friend asked if she wanted to join Slimming World with her as "the prompt I needed."

Lorna Turnbull Bean joined the Cury group now run by Hannah Osborne and in the first week she lost 6lb.

"It wasn’t my first time joining Slimming World, I’d been before, but this time round it was different. I really wanted to lose weight and was determined to make healthier choices and changes for me and the family.

Falmouth Packet:

Lorna before she joined Slimming World

"In four weeks I’d lost a stone - wahoo, I was off. My family were totally loving the meals, blown away by the variety. A few favourites are Szechuan beef, Jamaican fish stew and sweet and sour chicken, which are easy to make and so tasty.

"Don’t get me wrong, there have been some bumps along the road but I’ve not looked back," she said.

"Staying to group has really helped, everyone is so lovely and supportive and that along with the support from my consultant makes me feel like I can really achieve my dream. I’ve learned to be kind to myself and it feels good.

"Can you believe I’m now on my way to my four stone award - yes me.

"Someone once said 'If nothing changes, nothing will ever change' and step by step I’m changing - eating healthier and feeling happier. This time I know I’ll get there."

Falmouth Packet:

Lorna winning this year's Woman of the Year award at her group

Hannah Osborne, who runs the Cury group, said: "With the rise of trendy fad diets, people are often seduced by the promise of fast weight losses and take quick-fix routes to lose weight.

"However, these methods of weight loss aren’t sustainable – after all, who wants to feel hungry all the time or give up their favourite foods indefinitely? Especially when that so often means that by February New Year’s resolutions are a distant memory.

"The fact is, there’s no magic pill when it comes to weight loss and the best weight-loss plan is the one you can stick to."