Singing for joy after shedding the pounds

BRISTOL slimmers have been singing about their weight loss experiences.

The group of local Weight Watchers members gathered near Clifton Suspension Bridge yesterday to join in a national sing-along about how losing some pounds has improved their quality of life.

They were joined by counterparts across the city at 11am – in an attempt to prevent people from breaking their new year's resolutions by reaching for biscuits or other naughty snacks.

They sang the song from the Weight Watchers advert, which features Alesha Dixon.

YouGov research suggests that many people who make resolutions break them by February 1. But the slimming group wanted to remind people about the positive impact eating carefully can have.

Jan Munro is a Weight Watchers leader of six classes in Longwell Green, Kingswood, Hanham and Warmley, having first joined a group more than 14 years ago.

The Longwell Green 59-year-old has been a leader for 13 years having first joined a group after she had her last baby and was struggling to lose weight at home.

"It is just a life-changing thing," she said.

"I lost two and a half stones and you have got to have been a member before a leader so you know what it feels like. But I have kept the weight off for 13 and a half years.

"The members are lovely and staying for meetings really helps them to get motivated. They support each other and make friends.

"The words that they sang at the Suspension Bridge have been taken from real members and leaders who have lost weight. Things like 'I used to be so boring staying in bed all the time' and 'I didn't like my photo being taken and I do now'."