WINE and crisps were a weakness for Katherine Travers.

The 31-year-old supply teacher at Chesterton Primary School, also found it hard to resist the tempting biscuits and cakes frequently passed around in the school staff room.

But now Katherine is two dress sizes smaller, and is so pleased with her weight loss that she has started her own Slimming World group in Baldwins Gate.

Katherine pictured before and after she dropped 2 dress sizes

"I was overweight for most of my childhood and throughout my teens and into my twenties," says Katherine, who lives in Whitmore, near Baldwins Gate. "People said I was 'solid' or 'well built'.

"I was always encouraged to clear my plate and I didn't particularly like sport at school. I wasn't good at it and that probably contributed to me not getting enough exercise.

"I wasn't picked on, though."

By her mid to late teens, Katherine became unhappy about her weight, so she started skipping breakfast.

"I also started eating really small portions," she says.

"My parents said I should be eating more, but I did my own thing. However, I was nowhere near being an anorexic.

"I lost quite a lot of weight and I think I became too thin. I lost my bust as well, which wasn't very nice."

Katherine met her husband Rod, an architect, when she was aged about 18 or 19, and he felt she was becoming too thin.

"I then started eating normally," she says, "and I slowly put the weight back on, because I was happy.

"Wine was my weakness, and crisps, and in school there are always biscuits and cakes that children have brought in, especially around Christmas. The staff room is always full of them and I found them hard to resist."

Katherine and Rod, aged 61, were married in 2003, and three years later Katherine weighed 12st 6lbs and was a dress size 16-18.

"I always found shopping for clothes a complete nightmare and never felt confident," she admits.

"I just wanted to be able to wear a pair of skinny jeans with knee-high boots."

Katherine had attempted to slim through WeightWatchers and had also tried the Atkins diet, but had found these weren't right for her.

"I joined a gym too," she adds, "and that did help, but while I became a bit more toned and felt a bit healthier, the exercising didn't shift the weight."

Then, in August last year, she spotted a banner advertising a Slimming World group in Clayton and decided to give it a go.

She says: "One of the best things about the plan is the amount of food you can eat. Nothing is banned, it's just about sensible quantities."

Katherine is now more than a stone lighter and is a dress size 12-14.

"I weigh 11stone," she says, "and I feel fab. I feel attractive, confident, and most importantly, healthier.

"I'm always buying new clothes and I've treated myself to a pair of Armani jeans."

Katherine's Slimming World group meets at Baldwins Gate Primary School every Monday at 7pm. To find out more, contact her on 07912 318657.