SCOTTISH Slimmers have been searching for the country’s most inspirational slimmers – men and women who have lost weight, inspired others, become more active, improved their health and learned how to really love life.

And from hundreds of entries they whittled it down to 35 men and women from all over Scotland to be part of Scottish Slimmers Slimmer of the Year semi-final day last weekend.

Everyone had a story to tell and everyone was a winner after losing a combined total of a staggering 235 stone between them.

And the shortlist included 46-year-old Beith woman Lesley Lumsden who has lost over seven stone.

Lesley is a health care assistant in a GP surgery and weighed over 20 stone before a moment of emotion made her take a step to change her life.

She had mixed emotions when she was asked to be a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding.

Lesley said: “I was overjoyed for the bride and proud she wanted me to by her side on her big day, but I also dreaded being a fat bridesmaid.

“What made it worse was the other three bridesmaids were all slim.

"I couldn’t imagine getting a size 28 dress to fit me.” In her bid to trim down for the wedding, Lesley joined Scottish Slimmers in January 2012, over a year before the wedding which was due to take place in August of last year.

She added: “Sadly the wedding never happened, but by that time I’d already slimmed down so much that I wanted to carry on for my own sake.

“I started eating home-cooked regular meals rather than grazing on junk food. Soon the pounds were falling off and I began to feel healthier and fitter.

"My cholesterol went down and I started exercising four times a week at a Curves class.

“Before I slimmed down, I used to be embarrassed doing my job as a healthcare assistant at a GP’s surgery, where I weigh people and discuss diet and exercise with them.

“Now I do referrals through the GP scheme and patients can see that Scottish Slimmers really does work.” After losing 7 stone 4.5lb Lesley still remembers the journey she has been on but is really pleased with how far she has come, she added: “I still wear my ID card with my old photo to remind me not to put on weight again.

"I have a more positive attitude to life and love the new me.

“ I used to buy my clothes at outsized shops but now choose fashionable clothes to show off my figure.

“I wore a jumpsuit and high heels for the Scottish Slimmers’ photoshoot. The old me would never have dared to wear an outfit like that.” For more information about Scottish Slimmers call FREE on 0800 36 26 36 or log on to www.scottishslimmers.com