WHEN Julie Wilcock spent "another unhappy Christmas wearing an unflattering, shapeless outfit" she knew something positive had to be done.

Thanks to a new man and a New Year's resolution to "change and to be happy" super-slim Julie has achieved her dream -- in time for another happy Christmas.

She can wear the shapely clothes she longed to buy and was thrilled to get into a fitted size 10 dress for a New Year's celebration.

Julie also developed a new-found confidence she never thought she could achieve.

Now she hopes her own experiences can be used to help others who want to lose weight.

There is a good two and half stones less of 33-year-old Julie than there was when she started on her diet and she is feeling, and looking, good.

She says: "I've probably got another half a stone to go, but I can get in a dress size 10 or 12 now, compared with the tight 14 or 16 that I used to wear."

Julie has even started her own Slimming World weekly class at Little Lever Community Centre in Mytham Road, Little Lever which is designed for both men and women.

Julie, a part-time dental receptionist from Radcliffe, says people should not be afraid to join the class.

"They won't be laughed at, they will be encouraged."

Julie lost her weight through the Slimming World regime which works on the theory of red and green days, which are days when you eat either meat (red) or vegetables (green). Sins, which includes fattier and more calorie-laden food, you can have in moderation, and there is a list of foods that can be eaten all the time.

"It's a great diet because you aren't depriving yourself. You can go to a wedding, or a party, and not worry about what you eat. You won't lose any weight that week, but you won't gain any either."

Glamorous

Julie's incentive to start losing weight came when she took a close look at a holiday snap. "I couldn't believe how big I had become. I could see rolls of fat."

She spent many nights going out with her incredibly slim, size six, glamorous friend and became more and more unhappy.

Then she met her current partner, 38-year-old Brian Blount who made her feel special. "I couldn't believe he wanted to go out with me.

"He was lovely and caring but I could still be miserable and depressed because I hated being fat. I had no confidence in myself."

When Julie met Brian's friends' slim girlfriends she decided she wanted to look like they did.

She joined a Slimming World class, with a colleague from work, and has not looked back. I was enjoying all my favourite foods and most of all I was never ever hungry."

Julie, who has a three-year-old daughter, Mellissa, is feeling better than she has in years and she puts it down to her weight loss, which has brought her the confidence she feels she so badly needed.

Anyone who would like to find out more about Julie's classes can ring her on 0161-724 0283.