Four slimmers from Saffron Walden are celebrating being crowned Women of the Year after shedding a combined total of more than 16 stone between them.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Caroline BonnerCaroline Bonner (Image: Archant)

Amy Whitehouse, Caroline Bonner, Pauline Moss, and Rebecca Browne, who all attend the town’s Slimming World classes, were voted for by peers in their respective groups as being inspirational to others.

The four ladies achieved the impressive weight loss over a number of months and all had different reasons for wanting to shift the pounds.

New mother Amy Whitehouse, 27, from Saffron Walden, who is a history teacher at County High, says a trip to the doctors initially spurred her into action.

She said: “I’d always been a bigger girl, but when I went to the doctors for something, I was weighed by the nurse. She told me I had a BMI of 31 and was morbidly obese, and putting serious pressure on my body.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Pauline MossPauline Moss (Image: Archant)

“I first went on a powdered diet and lost two stone, but ended up putting four back on. It was when I got engaged that it really made me focus on losing because I had the target of the white dress.

“Unfortunately, that engagement broke down, but after that I realised it was about me and not a white dress or anyone else.

“When I became pregnant a year ago, I decided that I wanted to be a fit and healthy mum to my son Lawson. I’ve lost 4st 2lb, but I’m not done yet, I’ve still got 8lbs to go.”

Caroline Bonner, 46, a financial support analyst from Saffron Walden, has lost 4st 5lbs and an incident on holiday in France was the real starting point for her weight loss.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Rebecca BrowneRebecca Browne (Image: Archant)

She said: “I was diagnosed as needing a partial knee replacement in 2014 after having problems.

“But in May 2015, I was on holiday in Falaise, Normandy, and to get to the town from the campsite, you have to walk up a hill. I was out of breath and my knee was hurting, and I just turned round to my partner and said ‘I can’t do this anymore’.

“It was from there that I really decided to make changes and the support from the group has been fantastic. I’ve made a few changes, I work in London and walk from Liverpool Street to Holborn, which takes about 25 minutes. I haven’t really cut foods out, I’m just in control of what I eat now.”

Pauline Moss, from Radwinter, who is a housekeeper and nanny, says her 4st 2lbs loss came after a difficult period in her life.

The divorced mother-of-two said: “I was feeling quite low at the time, but I decided to pick myself up and really make a effort to lose weight.

“I’ve lost 58 pounds in 28 weeks, which averages at 2lbs per week. You don’t have to on the Slimming World diet but I cut out cakes and biscuits and bought a bike.

“It’s really good to have the support of a great bunch people in the group. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Rebecca Browne, 35, who manages Busy Bees Preschool at Carver Barracks, has lost 3st 10lbs and says a couple of factors made her want to shift the pounds.

The mother-of-four said: “I had a skin cancer scare, which resulted in me having a mole removed.

“That shocked me a bit, and I was fed up of walking up stairs and being out of breath.

“I’ve gone from a size 20 to a size 10 and am experimenting much more with my food now. I was a lazy eater before, just grabbing crisps and chocolate on the go.

“My 11-year-old son Jake said to me the other night, ‘Mummy, I didn’t used to be able to get my hands all around you to give you a cuddle but now I can’.”