Linda has had a problem with her weight since she was 13. Always the 'big one' she had any number of 'tricks' she thought made her look slimmer, but in retrospect, she was kidding no one... not even herself. “My lasting memory is of the apron I would always wear. I used to think if I had that on, nobody could see my actual size,” she remembers.

A mother of two young boys, Linda's weight rose with each pregnancy and with the added complication of high blood pressure and a realisation that she was the “mummy who didn't 'do' things”, she decided it was time for change. When Linda's dad had a stroke, it was the final straw. “I joined Unislim and promised myself nothing was going to stop me.”

A new regime of low GI meals, lots of exercise and new perspective clicked in. “I even started doing the Unislim Fitness DVD, which was hell at first, but I still do it now... and the boys love following along with me!” Now, Linda is an active mum, and husband Stuart is beaming with pride too.

Not surprising when you see how she's swapped uncontrolled eating for weighing and measuring her meals, and stodgy food for plenty of vegetables, salad and fruit. “I won't deprive myself either,” she says, “but if I want a treat, I'll exercise for it and save up the extra units.”

Boys David and Ryan love their glamorous, energetic mother too, giving her plenty of encouragement along the way. “David– who's just four – is always saying how proud he is of his 'lovely mummy', which makes it all worthwhile!”. And Linda is now a mummy who 'does things', such as swimming, playing outdoors, getting involved and starting a new job... as a Unislim leader!