A SUPER slimmer from Bracknell who lost an impressive 11 stone has met former Olympic swimmer Mark Foster after making the finals of a national weight loss contest.

Rachel Spalding, 42, dropped from 23st 8lbs to 12st 8lbs and was one of only ten women out of 900,000 members to make the finals of Slimming World's Woman of the Year for 2016.

She said: “I’d tried and failed to lose weight so many times that I honestly thought that I was destined to be overweight forever.

"Before Slimming World, I always found myself feeling deprived, hungry and miserable when I tried to lose weight. Slimming World completely opened my eyes to a totally new way of eating."

Her prize for reaching the last ten of the contest was the choice of either £3,000 or a once in a lifetime holiday to Mexico.

After winning her regional heat, Rachel met six-time world champion Foster at the semi-finals in Derbyshire, narrowly missing out on the overall prize.

The former World Championship gold medallist was amazed by her transformation and added: "It was a real pleasure to meet Rachel and chat to her about her weight loss.

"As an athlete I know how important health and fitness is for your general wellbeing, so I think it’s incredible to hear how she has turned her life around."

Marelise Morley, who runs the Bracknell group that Rachel attends, said: “Rachel is such an inspiration to everyone in our group. While she has lost weight she’s grown in so many other ways – her confidence, her happiness and her zest for life.

"It’s been a pleasure to share in her journey. I couldn’t be more proud of her and I know the Bracknell group all feel the same way. She’s blossomed into a beautiful woman both inside and out."