AMANDA Howard weighed 21 stones when her father died, at the age of 50. The tragic loss proved to be a turning point in her life.

"He always wanted me to lose weight. I realised that I was wasting my life," said Amanda.

She had tried several diets unsuccessfully, but a combination of a low fat diet and slimming pills, at The Image Clinic, Palmyra Square, did the trick.

She lost nine stones in 18 months, and has just one stone to go to reach her target weight of 11 stones.

"You hear conflicting stories about slimming pills and I was unsure at first, but it was no problem. I would recommend them. I had medical supervision, and everything was fine. The diet has changed my life."

Before losing weight Amanda, an administrator at Tankfreight, Woolston, hardly spoke to people at work. "I felt insecure. I couldn't even go into the warehouse," she said. "I could hardly fit into a size 30 skirt before I started dieting.

"I am much happier now. I have more energy than I have ever had in my life."

Amanda's boy friend, Al Rawlinson, is also delighted with her weight loss. Amanda eats rice, baked potatoes, salad, low fat cheese and chicken. "I hope to lose my last stone before Christmas," she said.

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