A BARRY Slimming World consultant made it through to the semi-finals of the weight loss organisation’s Consultant Slimmer of the Year 2018 – after losing five stone.

Karl Payne, who runs the Cadoxton Moors Slimming World group, was shortlisted in the national competition, but didn’t win.

The Consultant Slimmer of the Year competition celebrates people’s transformations, as well as the way they have gone on to support their members to become healthier.

Mr Payne weighed almost 16 stone and found both his health and confidence were beginning to suffer when he decided to lose weight.

The 44-year-old joined his Slimming World group in June 2016.

He said: “I was nervous when I first walked through the door of my Slimming World group, but it was without doubt one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Before I lost weight I didn’t do any real exercise.

“Slimming World helped me to become much more active too and now I run regularly. I love running so much that I successfully competed in nine local running events throughout 2017, including the Cardiff Half Marathon.”

He decided to train to become a Slimming World Consultant after reaching his target weight of 10st 7.5lb in March 2017.

Mr Payne now supports 65 slimmers at his group.

He said: “Before I lost the weight I could never have imagined having the confidence to try new things. My worries about my weight almost consumed me and I found it very difficult to do many of the things I used to enjoy, like playing with my children, going out for meals, wearing fashionable clothes, dressing up for nights out. I might have lost weight, yet I’ve gained so much more. Bags of confidence, a new zest for life and, of course, my own business.

“I used to think that losing weight was one of the best feelings ever – yet helping others to turn their lives around and lose the weight that has held them back for so long is even better.”