“Getting married at 20, my weight didn’t seem the biggest thing I’m my life, marrying my best friend was. It wasn’t until I was showing my boys, now aged 8 and 5, our wedding photos that my eldest said ‘Wow mummy, you was fat back then’.”

Danielle Gladstone, from Barmouth, was “devastated”, as she explained.

“The only time I got the wedding photographs out after that was to kick myself that I didn’t concentrate more on the way I looked, especially now when all my friends are now getting married and making an effort about the way they look.”

In September 2019, Danielle received an invitation to her brother-in-law’s wedding. It was then that the mother-of-two decided to join Slimming World.

“I wanted to prove to my little boys that mummy can be slim and beautiful,” said Danielle, 30.

“My journey not only took me to a two stone weight loss, but it also improved my health.

“I suffer with asthma and some days walking the stairs to the attic leaves me breathless and I need to sit down for a while before coming back down.

“Losing weight helped me to get fitter and now I can run round with my boys.

“My journey with Slimming World has made me feel so positive and has given me so much confidence. My group in Porthmadog with leader Kristy is so friendly and warming. We have great fun and I wanted to give that back and help my community feel the same, so I applied to become a Slimming World Consultant, I have been a one now since 29 December.

“I have already helped several members reach their one stone award, and I already know I made an amazing decision.”

Danielle also knows how hard it can be to maintain a loss of weight.

“I am also back on my journey as lockdown wasn’t the best, and as I celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary in June this year, I want my boys to say I look fabulous and not fat.”

New research from the University of Lincoln has revealed a link between weight loss groups and increased mental toughness.

The research reveals that people who are supported to lose weight in a group environment lose more weight than those who choose to lose weight without support. They can also increase their mental toughness too.

The study, which is the first of its kind in the UK, found that during the six months it was undertaken, on average Slimming World members lost over two stone more than those in the comparison group.

Measures of mental toughness rose 10 per cent in Slimming World group members, whereas the comparison group had no statistically significant change to their mental toughness.

Danielle was able to overcome so much with her new found confidence that she became a Slimming World Consultant opening a group in Barmouth last week. She also works for the NHS.

Danielle, who has lived in Barmouth for 14 years, met her husband there and their children go to the local primary school. It is, therefore, the perfect place for her to host her own Slimming World group.

“It’s at the Dragon Theatre on a Wednesday evening at 5.30pm and 7pm,” Danielle said.