WHEN Laura Watkinson felt too embarrassed to interview a client, she knew it was time to lose weight.

Now just over a year later, the 37-year-old from Crawley has shed nearly five stone and had the confidence to set up her own business.

As a reward for her determination she has now been chosen as a national finalist in Slimming Magazine's Slimmer of the Year competition.

The turning point came when Laura realised her weight had crept up to 15st 4lb, and the more pounds she gained, the more confidence she lost.

Laura, a management training and development officer, said: "I just got fed up of not being in control, so I decided enough was enough."

She managed to cut down on her one big vice - chocolate - to trim down to her ideal weight of 10st 10lbs and put unflattering pictures of herself in the kitchen to spur her on.

After being made redundant from her job, Laura set up her own management development company, Watkinson Associates Ltd, and has not looked back since.

And the transformation has led to Laura, mother to seven-year-old Charles, fulfiling one of her dreams to appear on television gameshows. She has already filmed a show of Wipe Out for the BBC and will soon appear on Wheel of Fortune, hosted by John Leslie.

Her husband David, an antiques dealer, added: "When she makes up her mind to do something she certainly does it. I think she looks great."

The winner of the Slimmer of the Year title was Jacqui Buck from London who lost more than eight stone after having

difficulty squeezing into an aeroplane seat.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.