A GORNAL mum who once tipped the scales at 19 stones is now feeling better than ever after shedding the pounds and launching her own clothing company.

Shortly after having her first son, Kate Turner was plagued with health problems due to being overweight.

Her spleen was enlarged, she had to have her gall bladder removed, numerous knee operations were required due to excessive wear, she was borderline diabetic and suffered from backache and fatigue.

Kate said: "I knew I had to do something about my weight as my life was being threatened by the amount of weight I was carrying.

"Unfortunately I didn't have the will power to do it myself. Although in the past I lost weight with slimming clubs, I would always put it back on."

Although she admits she was happy to be a size 24 and was always the life and soul of the party, with a young baby to look after and a wedding to prepare for, she knew changes had to be made.

In August 2010, she decided to pay to have a gastric band fitted and lost four stones by the following January.

She then fell pregnant with her second child and after giving birth, had the band inflated, allowing her to reach her target weight of 10 stones.

She said: "I began to exercise, walk, swim and then run, I felt great but the band was far too tight. I found myself in the same situation again with health problems but this time from not eating enough.

"Some days I struggled to swallow my own saliva. After weeks of struggling I had the band relaxed so there was no fluid in my band to give me any more restriction."

Initially she gained weight, but now, at the age of age 34, she is a healthy 11 stones and a size 12.

"It was a real journey having the band, emotionally and physically and I would definitely challenge anyone who thinks it's an easy option out," she said.

"It's so painful and the worst part is you don't feel hungry but your thirst is unquenchable.

"Your social life is effected as you can't eat out with friends and at times I struggled to even drink and get through a day at work.

"I don't regret having the band as it saved my life, but wish I had of tried harder to keep to a sensible diet plan."

Now, Kate controls her portion sizes by eating off a small plate and has kept up her running and joined the gym.

However she hasn't forgot what it felt like to be bigger: "I often had comments made to me by strangers in pubs or on the street. I always struggled to get nice clothes to fit, because I was young and wanted to wear what my friends did.

"This frustration always stayed with me and although the clothes are now not my size, I decided to launch my own store called Love The Size Your In.

"I would never promote obesity, but do believe if larger people did love themselves more and accept their size, their mental health would improve too."

The online company sells a range of trendy clothes in sizes 14 to 32.

To find out more, visit www.lovethesizeyourin.com or visit the Facebook page Love The Size Your In.