A SLIMMING consultant is urging those who have piled on the pounds during the Covid pandemic to “take a leap of faith” and emulate her own amazing weight-loss journey.

Grace Neill, a self-confessed former comfort eater who runs Slimming World classes in Renfrewshire, had been overweight since childhood but now counts ‘Munro bagging’ among her achievements.

“I was always the biggest one out of my friends and family and I was close to giving up and accepting I would be obese for the rest of my life,” she told The Gazette.

“I lacked confidence because of my weight and could never find the motivation to lose it on my own but I didn’t want to reach my 30th birthday without making a change.

“I kept driving by a banner for Slimming World and one day, three years ago, I decided to join the group in one last attempt to lose weight.”

With the group’s support, Grace shed five-and-a-half stones in just 10 months, dropping from a size 20 to a size 12, which transformed her life.

“There were things I wanted to try before and never did,” she said. “Last year, I went horse-riding for the first time since I was a small child and I’m also going to do a skydive. I’d never been light enough to do that but now I am and I’m super excited about it.

“I go on hillwalking holidays and have completed the West Highland Way.

“I have climbed Snowdon, as well as Ben Nevis and four other Munros, which I did on my own. Losing weight has not only given me the confidence to attempt to do this but also to do it solo, which was a huge challenge for me.”

Grace’s new lease of life has also led to a new career.

She has been a consultant for Slimming World for two years and recently left her job at Glasgow Science Centre to focus on helping others lose weight full-time.

Along with her colleague Jennifer McDade, Grace has turned the former Papamacs restaurant, in Houstoun Square, Johnstone, into their dream Slimming World venue.

Members are currently meeting virtually over Zoom, with the opportunity to visit the venue to be weighed in.

Grace, 32, said: “We want to spread the word that we are here to help people get back on track.

“Being able to come along to be weighed every week in person makes a real difference for people.”

For more information about Grace’s Slimming World classes, call 0792 853 1481.