Weighing 20st 10lb at her heaviest, Jill Rutherford said she felt trapped, lethargic, unhappy and self conscious.
She explained that on one occasion she managed to split the seam on a pair of size 24/26 trousers. But added that her most 'mortifying' experience of being overweight was when she got stuck in her seat on a flight from Newcastle to Dubai.
She said that the seat was so tight throughout the long-haul flight that she ended up sustaining bruises from the journey.
Jill, from Choppington, said: "I was so unfit [that] walking up a flight of stairs was hard. I was out of breath by time I reached the top. My husband [also] had to help me tie my laces as I couldn't bend down to do it myself.
"But I think one of the worst experiences was when I was travelling to Australia to visit my son. I was too big for the seats - not only did the seat belt go nowhere near fastening, I was wedged, stuck tight in the chair all the way from Newcastle to Dubai.
"When we eventually arrived I was literally black and blue with bruises - I was mortified."
Jill had tried to lose weight previously through Slimming World but had been unable to keep the weight off and slowly her unhealthy lifestyle habits would resurface. The 53-year-old said she had little structure to her eating pattern and on most days she wouldn't eat until early evening, by which time she would be so hungry she would grab anything.
When she filled her car up at the garage it was "the norm" for her to buy two or three bars of chocolate and eat them all before she got home. Jill added: "In my head if nobody saw me eat it then it didn't happen."
But it was the day she was given a devastating breast cancer diagnosis that Jill said she realised her weight was killing her and she desperately needed to do something about it.
And she claims that at the time of her diagnosis she was dealt a second blow by being told her weight was to blame.
She said: "When I was diagnosed with breast cancer my oncologist told me my obesity and unhealthy lifestyle was a massive factor.
"He told me that after my treatment of a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy there was no guarantee it would not come back. But he did tell me if I continued on the same path I was on, he was sure that it probably would.
"He also told me because of my weight I had reached the ceiling height with the amount of chemotherapy I needed. All those factors was obviously enough to make me realise that my weight was actually killing me. If something like what I experienced isn't a wake up call then I don't no what is."
It was then that Jill decided to re-join Slimming World and try to do something about her weight. And now she said she feels 10 years younger after shedding 8st 3lb, slimming from a size 24/26 to a size 14.
Jill, who now weighs 12st 7lb, said: "Now I can run 5k... albeit slowly. I go to my local gym weight training three nights a week, I walk my sons puppy for miles - I honestly feel like there is nothing that I can't do.
"My energy levels are through the roof, I feel younger now than what I did 10 years ago. I would say whether you're a complete exercise beginner or a keep fit fan, there are a whole range of activities anyone can enjoy, especially in this lovely spring weather."
She added: "My eating habits have changed so much since joining Slimming World - I've even started cooking myself. It used to be my husband's job... I now really enjoy it, I have discovered my inner Jamie and cook meals from scratch.
"I'm very traditional in what I like, my favourite things to eat are fish and chips and roast dinners. I love to pile my plate with all my favourite veg like cabbage, turnip and potatoes.
"I'm not really bothered by deserts but if I was to pick one I'd go for a trifle. I still like to eat out occasionally and if I do I make much better choices. But to be honest the meals we make at home are far tastier and more filling."
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