A working mum who found her ‘sparkle’ after losing four stone is launching her own Slimming World group to support those looking to shed the pounds.

Sidmouth Herald: Harriet Steptoe said she hopes to help people get their sparkle back after losing four stone.Harriet Steptoe said she hopes to help people get their sparkle back after losing four stone. (Image: Archant)

Harriet Steptoe went from 16-and-a-half stone to 11 stone 13lbs in six months - and was driven to become a consultant after her dad said the weight loss ‘has given him his daughter back’.

The 36-year-old ‘daddy’s girl’ said her self-confidence reached zero following the birth of her daughter Elsie in April last year.

She joined Slimming World in Sidmouth and has not looked back.

Harriet, who is also mother to five-year-old Jake, said: “My self-confidence has gone from zero to 100 since losing the weight. I have more energy, I’m happy, I can do a lot more stuff with the children.

“As I started to lose weight, I could feel the change in my clothes and my confidence. However, it was when my dad said that he had got his daughter back - and he could see the sparkle back in my eyes - that I realised that I wanted to do more.

“For him to say that to me, it just made me want to help other people get their sparkle back too.

“I was fine, but I wasn’t happy. I had lost my smile. I felt I’d lost my identity and confidence and it was really impacting on my family life.”

Harriet was named the ‘biggest loser’ in her Wednesday group for shedding the most weight in 2015.

The Blackthorn Close resident recalled her first meeting and said: “I felt nervous and was worried that people were going to judge me. I needn’t have worried though, because as soon as I arrived I was greeted by a welcoming consultant who made me feel totally at ease.”

Thanks to the supportive network and consultant Jon Borowik’s guidance, Harriet saw that she wanted to help people herself. The medical secretary said: “I was in group and I thought I would really love to do this - just to help other people and to support other people. I know how difficult it can be, being a working mum trying to find the time for things, for your children and cooking. I really want to help people who have been in the same boat as myself and to help them follow their dreams.”

Harriet will open her Slimming World group on Saturday, April 30, at Sidmouth Primary School at 9.30am.

Contact her on 07828 299391 or email Harrietc.steptoe@gmail.com