LAUNCESTON slimmers have been winning at the losing game — shedding stones to be named Launceston Slimming World’s ‘Greatest Loser’ 2016.

Each of Slimming World’s 14,000 groups in the UK and Ireland has their own Greatest Loser 2016 and winners will go forward to the national competition.

Tamsyn Hairs, 35, was named Launceston Slimming World Monday’s ‘Greatest Loser’ 2016 after shedding nearly 7st.

Tamsyn joined the Monday group, which is run by Emma Weston, in June 2015.

She said: “Before I lost the weight I hid behind a big bubbly personality or I always tried to shrink into the background and avoid drawing attention to myself. I’d pretend it didn’t bother me that I was bigger than most other people, but that was far from the truth.

“I hated shopping for clothes and found playing with my children would leave me tired and out of breath.”

After finding Slimming World by seeing a banner, Tamsyn decided to join her local Slimming World group at St Stephens Community Hall.

She added: “Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, I was embarrassed about my size and scared that I might be the biggest person there. I needn’t have worried though, everyone there was so friendly especially my consultant Emma and I was so relieved when I found out that my weight was confidential between me and her — I’d had visions of having to tell everyone how much I weighed!

“Since then I’ve made so many friends at the group and I honestly don’t think I could have done it without their support each week. They helped me with recipes and tips and if I was ever struggling they were always there to remind me why I’d wanted to lose weight in the first place and how far I’d come since first stepping through the doors.

“I feel like a new woman since losing weight — in fact, I look so different that people who I haven’t seen for a while often can’t believe I’m the same person. For me though it’s the change on the inside that’s been the biggest — I’m happier, healthier and much more confident now.”

Tamsyn has lost a total of 6st 11lb and gone from a size 28 to a size 16. She is also more active nowadays and regularly walks with a local walking group.

Emma, who runs the Launceston Monday Slimming World group, said: “The changes we’ve seen in Tamsyn are incredible. I hope her success will inspire other people in Launceston who’d like to lose weight by forming new lifestyle habits and become happier and healthier to take action. There’s a warm welcome waiting at Slimming World and, just think, if you start today you could feel like a completely new person just like Tamsyn.”

Tamsyn is now waiting to find out if she’s in the running for the £3,000 cash prize.

She said: “I would love to win but I didn’t lose weight to win a competition, I wanted to feel healthier and better about myself and I’ve definitely done that. I feel great and that’s priceless.”

Launceston’s other greatest losers were: Mondays 7.30pm Tracey S 2st 9.5lb; Wednesdays 5.30pm Mike Wallington 4st 7lb; Wednesdays 7.30pm Sam Allen 4st 4lb; Thursday 10am Douglas Prince 8st 5.5lb; Thursday 12noon Richard Hillard 8st 12lb; Thursday 5pm Pat Mallett 7st 3lb; Thursday 7pm Helen Naylor 5st 3lb.

There are now eight groups in Launceston.