A YORK woman has told how she has lost more than six stones within eight months, having piled on weight after a bereavement.

Rachel Russell, 25, has gone from 17st 2.5lbs to 11st since February and is now setting up her own slimming group.

She gained weight following the death of her father in 2010.

“The year following on from losing my dad was the worst of my life,” Rachel said. “I didn’t know how to handle the stress and grief. My whole world was turned upside down. I became depressed, upset and angry. Other relationships with friends and family started to break down and the only comfort I could find was in food.”

Rachel quickly went from a size ten to a 14 and became very insecure about her appearance. When she became pregnant in 2014 with her first child she gained more weight and after a difficult pregnancy Rachel found herself at a size 24 and weighing more than 17 stone.

“People told me as soon as the baby was born the weight would fall off, and I had convinced myself this was true,” she said. “But after the arrival of my son the sleepless nights and stress were too much and I dealt with it the only way I knew how to; I turned to food. My afternoons would consist of large binges on chocolate, cake and crisps and eating unhealthy microwave meals and takeaways for dinner nearly every night of the week.”

Rachel’s health started to suffer; she began having breathing problems and panic attacks as well as suffering from high blood pressure, lack of energy and severe back and joint pains.

She joined Slimming World after speaking with a friend who was having great weight loss success. Rachel now wears size ten and is due to become a consultant for Slimming World in Haxby, with a group at Oaken Grove Community Centre every Thursday at 5pm and 7pm from November 3.