A mother-of-two from Dwyfor who was paralysed from the waist down by a rare condition has gone on to run a 10k and become a weight-loss champion.

Lois Morgan-Pritchard, from Y Ffôr battled Guillain-Barré Syndrome to climb out of a wheelchair. Now the beautician is celebrating further success – dropping three dress sizes!

The former primary school teacher achieved this through S4C’s popular FFIT Cymru series.

But she had faced her first fitness test 12 years ago, when a visit to a nightclub ended with her in hospital, paralysed by Guillain-Barré Syndrome affecting her nerves, feet, hand and limbs and causing numbness, weakness and pain.

Lois was told she might never walk again but fought her way back to fitness, with the help of future husband, Huw.

The 33-year-old said her second test – to get fit again after two children – was self-inflicted. Tipping the scales at 15 stone two pounds, she was chosen from hundreds of applicants for a place on FFIT Cymru.

Now her size 20 clothes have been sent to charity shops and Lois is a size 14 and three stone lighter.

“When I applied for the show I was feeling really down and wouldn’t look in the mirror any more,” she explained.

“I thought of everyone else before me and just felt I’d let myself go and because of my medical history I wasn’t as strong and fit as I should be so this was my chance to go for it.

“But without the programme I wouldn’t be where I am now and I still get up at half past six in the morning for a live workout with the programme’s fitness coach.

“There’s no gimmicks to it. It’s hard work and sticking to the plan and now I enjoy my life again.”

She added: “I remember when I was in hospital I had just started going out with Huw and my parents actually met him by my hospital bed.

“I couldn’t stand or move my arms but he has been amazing and been by my side through everything.

“I was quite big when I had that attack but I got really fit and was in the gym every day to get my posture back and learn to walk, but then I let myself go again.”

The couple have two children now. Gethin is four and Owain, one-and-a-half.

Lois was determined to lose weight. She said: “FFIT Cymru gave me the kick-start I needed. I already knew what it was like to be stuck in a bed unable to do anything and just watching life pass me by and when I decide to go for something I really do. When I was getting fit again, I ran a 10k with Huw and the kids following me in the car, giving me pieces of banana.

“I’m the sort of person who is up for a laugh and up for a challenge and I give 100 per cent to whatever I do and jump in the deep end.”

“The beauty salon is going very well and I’m very busy but I have much more energy and feel much better about myself. I used to just flop down on the sofa with some food after work but now I am on the floor playing with my children.”

Lois’s challenge featured on FFIT Cymru: 6 Mis Wedyn in December. The show is keen to recruit applicants for the next series. The deadline to apply is 6 February.