CREDITON mum, Rosie Cairney, has been named as Regional Slimmer of the Year 2010 by Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness magazine after shedding nine stone in less than two years.

The 33-year-old former restaurant owner, who now runs an outside catering business with her husband, Jim, has shrunk from a dress size 26 to super-slim size 10/12.

Rosie achieved the dramatic transformation with a low GI and calorie-controlled diet and taking regular exercise, such as walking, swimming and more recently running.

Rosie received her award from Rosemary Conley at a ceremony in Leicestershire.

She said: "Rosie has achieved a superb weight loss and, as well as gaining a fantastic new figure, she has improved her health and fitness levels too."

Rosie weighed 19st 12lb and is now 10st 12lb.

She said: "I have had a weight problem from the age of seven when I weighed around seven stone and was classed as morbidly obese.

"I have tried to lose weight in the past by following other diets but I never succeeded in sticking to them.

"I wanted to lose weight to set a good example to my daughter who is five-years-old.

"Now I have succeeded in losing weight, my life has changed significantly and I now feel fit, healthy and confident.

"I have proved that it is possible to realise your dream of being slim."

Rosie said she tries to run about 15 miles a week, hopefully every day, which she added was "remarkable" as she previously had hip pain and a back problem.

"All my pains have now gone and I think I had them purely because of the weight.

"I feel so much better in myself and I am now aiming to complete the Great West Run in Exeter and ultimately, if I can get a place, the London Marathon."

Rosie, in addition to helping run the outside catering business, is hoping to pursue a career as a motivational speaker.

To contact Rosie, email her at: [email protected]">[email protected] .

alan-quick@crediton

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