A woman who has been slim for a decade after 25 years of yo-yo dieting is setting up a new programme to help others.

Claire Jones, 48, of Dover, begins the online guidance, called Preparing for Successful Weight Loss, in January.

She told KentOnline: "I was yo-yo dieting from the age of 13.

"But I finally learned the most important thing is to pay attention to what and how much you eat.

"But also why because we comfort eat, for celebration and because we like food so eat more than is good for us. So you should only eat when you're hungry and stop when you've had enough.

"But it is all easier said than done."

She also gave up smoking 15 years ago, giving her more energy for another important contribution to weight loss - exercise.

She is now a regular marathon runner.

Mrs Jones is already a full time weight loss coach, with her company YourOneLife, and in May launched a book called How to Eat Less.

It guides people on taking smaller portions, through practical tips and easy techniques, without actually going on a diet.

Mrs Jones is currently a trim 10st 3lb (64.9kg) but at worst was 13st 7lb (82.6kg), in January 2006.

That summer she went to the other extreme and was unhealthily thin, at 8st 9lb (54.8kg).

Mrs Jones' yo-yo dieting stretched from 1986 to 2011.

She had previously lived as a single-mum to two children, whilst working in high profile and high-pressure public sector roles for several years.

For a time she was as a senior NHS manager in Bromley, while living in Dover, which involved 140-mile round commutes and often having to eat at petrol stations.

Mrs Jones lived on snacks and calorific quick and easy meals to fit around her busy job and life.

Trying weight loss programmes and restrictive eating plans didn't work.

She tried a strict weight management plan and at first dramatically slimmed down and was able to buy smaller size clothes.

Mrs Jones also took took up running but her weight fluctuated yet again due to workplace stress followed by a period of sickness and three years later, by early 2006, she was at her heaviest.

She found a way of losing pounds in short bursts, with the help of a local weight loss coach, followed by longer periods of maintaining her weight.

She never gave up running and by 2011 was physically fit enough to become a retained firefighter for Dover Fire Station.

Mrs Jones has been a stable 10st to 10st 7lb (63.6-66.7kg) over the last 10 years with one lapse during a back injury and when her father was ill long term. He died in June 2018.

"I give people new knowledge to change behaviours and build confidence."

Even under such strain the small amount of extra pounds were promptly shed again.

From early 2018, Mrs Jones completed numerous courses relating to health, fitness and wellbeing and started to focus on life coaching, personal training, and nutrition.

Mrs Jones left her last NHS job, as senior manager at Dover Health Centre in Maison Dieu Road, in January 2019.

From then she resolved to help others stop the yo-yo dieting cycle and established the website YourOneLife in memory of her father.

She said:"I don't prescribe meal or exercise plans. I give people new knowledge and skills alongside new tools to change behaviours and build confidence, and support them with better eating and exercise habits.

"Most of us want to lose as much weight as possible, and as quickly as possible, but while going on a diet might work in the short term, for many people it's just a sticking plaster.

"It doesn't resolve anything below the surface so it doesn't really change our behaviours."

For more in-depth guidance Mrs Jones also has an e-book called Preparing for Successful Weight Loss.

She is now expanding YourOneLife to now offer in-person clinic appointments at the Wellness Clinic in Canterbury Road, Hawkinge, for existing and new clients.

She has has recently completed a hypnotherapy course to help people deal with bad habits such as smoking, emotional eating and mindless snacking, alongside portion control and phobias.

Mrs Jones said: “I never promise a quick fix. Patience is key, it will take time, and my clients know I am going to make them work hard on challenging and changing their thinking, but it is so worth it.

"Rather than repeating the same pattern of weight loss and expecting different results, we change the pattern.”

Mrs Jones, who married for the second time in 2007, retired as a firefighter in 2016.

She is growing her business and promotes weekly and monthly challenges in her online members' club to encourage healthier habits and accountability.

To join her Preparing for Successful Weight Loss Programme in January apply via the email claire@youronelife.co.uk or visit youronelife.co.uk to find out more.

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