A Wells mum who felt like she was 'losing control of her body' when she began going through the menopause no longer needs medication to manage her symptoms after losing more than two-and-a-half stone.

Jude Duncan, 51, was suffering from heart palpitations, fatigue, hair loss and hot flushes when she began going through the change last year. But within months of losing weight, she started to feel like 'the old me' and found that shortly afterwards her symptoms had almost completely disappeared.

Jude, a head housekeeper, said: "I felt like I was losing control of my body. "I've read lots of different websites about menopause and how women are suffering. I didn't want to be that woman.

"I had lots of the usual symptoms but when I'd lost about a stone-and-a-half, I could move more, I was sleeping better, and the hot flushes and fatigue had subsided.

"I was starting to feel more like the old me. I'm brighter, happier, more confident, I have more energy." In a bid to feel better, Jude joined her local Slimming World group, determined to reduce her symptoms in a healthy way.

"I hated the idea of going to the doctor and being put on HRT," she said. "I decided to try everything I could first before going down the doctor route. "Joining Slimming World was part of the plan. I had read other people's stories about their weight loss improving their health and I wondered if it would help with menopause. So, I joined in early January 2022, and it was the best thing I ever did."

Slimming World's Extra Easy plan involves relying on free foods such as lean meats, eggs, fish, fruit, veg and pasta which can be eaten in unlimited amounts, allowing members to naturally reduce their calorie intake. Healthy Extras give the body vital vitamins, minerals and fibre while a daily allowance of syns means slimmers can still enjoy a glass of wine, dollop of mayonnaise or something sweet for dessert.

Amazingly, losing weight meant Jude found she no longer needed to take a multi nutrient supplement for menopausal women. She said: "I had been taking it for about six months and then I decided to stop taking the tablets to see what happened.

"I had no sweats or restless nights and the hot flushes had improved. "More weeks passed, and I lost more weight, with people at work seeing the change. Now I'm close to my target and I'm enjoying having my health back."

Two in three women in Britain are now overweight or obese, and carrying excess weight is a contributing factor to health conditions including heart disease and type two diabetes. For women, this can increase particularly after the menopause, so those looking for support in losing weight are invited to find out more about joining their local Slimming World group.

Jude's consultant, Sarah Sanger, said: "Jude is an amazing example of how she has used losing weight to improve her health and lifestyle. "She and her husband are such valuable members of the group, always sharing and giving fantastic food and recipe ideas. "We're all so proud of her success and how she's turned her life around." Sarah's groups run at Wells United Church on Wednesdays at 9.30am, 11am, 5.30pm & 7pm. For more info, contact her on 07715 958590. ENDS