A mum who lost almost three stone in eight months has been named Slimming World Woman of the Year.

Nagina Pandor was voted as winner of the annual award by a Leyton group after her ‘inspiring’ journey saw her dropping dress sizes rapidly.

The 30-year-old joined Slimming World in January 2015 after becoming increasingly unhappy with her size.

"I started to put on weight after the birth of my children and I tried lots of different diets but they usually left me feeling hungry or miserable – or both, in fact,” she said.

“With Slimming World it’s completely different, I never have to miss out and I don’t have to get hung up on weighing and measuring everything I eat.

“I don’t feel deprived and after losing 2 stone 12lbs I’m the slimmest – and the happiest – I’ve been in such a long time.”

Nagina old follows Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan, which encourages slimmers to fill up on healthy everyday foods like fruit and veg, lean meat and fish and pasta.

For Nagina, the weight loss has helped her to change her life.

“As the weight started to come off and I began moving down dress sizes – I started to believe I could actually lose the weight and keep it off,” she said.

“Losing the weight has made such a huge difference – it’s changed my life. I’ve recently passed my driving test and managed to get a part time job -I’m more confident and I like the slim, happy, positive person I see in the mirror.

“I feel like a winner already, so being voted the Leyton group’s Woman of the Year is just the icing on the cake."

Nagina lost 5lb in her first week at Slimming World and said she has been shocked by the amount she can still eat on her plan.

Sarah Andrews, who runs the Leyton group, says: "I’m so proud of Nagina. Not only does she look fabulous, she’s improved her health and is bursting with energy.

“She’s a huge inspiration to everyone in our group.”

The Leyton Slimming World group is held every Thursday at 7.30pm and Saturday at 8.30am at St Josephs Catholic Junior School, Vicarage Road, E10 5DX.

To join or find out more contact Sarah on 07958 646 942.