A woman from Ashford is hoping to inspire others with her incredible weight loss after finishing runner-up in a major fitness competition.

Melody Wakelin, 36, from Godinton Park, secured second place earlier this month in the transformation category at Pure Elite, the fastest growing bikini, fitness and muscle model competition in the world, which was staged in Margate.

The fitness enthusiast, who is originally from Ashford but also lived in Canada until 10 years ago, now wants to pursue her ambition of coaching others.

She said: “I have struggled with obesity my whole life. At my heaviest I weighed 25 stone.”

In her 20s, she barely ate in a bid to lose weight, fainting up to five times a day and eating only one meal a week.

She met her husband at the age of 28 while still suffering with anorexia, and found out they were expecting their first baby.

Melody said: “I didn’t know how to eat healthily. I ate what I thought was a normal amount, and in the nine months of my pregnancy I gained eight-and-a-half-stone. My son was healthy, but I was obese again.”

Fourteen months later, she was pregnant again, and gained another four-and-a-half-stone, but decided to change things after she gave birth.

She said: “I had to lose the 13-stone I had gained from pregnancy, plus an extra three-and-a-half to put me at a healthy weight.

“I started walking every day and eating better. There were times I wanted to give up but I never did. I kept going as my life depended on it.”

Five years later, she has lost a total of 16.5 stone, the final three-and-a-half of which she has lost since January this year, when she signed up to the competition.

She prepares all her meals and attends the Anytime Fitness gym at Ashford’s Panorama building up to three times a day, six days a week.

Melody is working to complete her Level 3 diploma in sport at the Kent Sports Academy in Ashford.

She said: “Over the next few months I plan on opening my own fitness business and doing coaching, personal trainer work and group classes in village halls, aimed for women and mothers to help them keep fit and healthy.

“I have not had any skin removal surgery. I lost the weight with a good healthy diet and exercise. No shakes, fad diets or magic pills.

“I enjoy helping people and showing that anything is possible if your willing to work for it.

“I am happy that finally I have won the battle against anorexia and obesity and am now happy and healthy.”