The panel of pictures below shows one woman’s journey to halve her body weight.

Taken each time she lost a stone, Max Freeman charted the obese to super slim transformation she has gone through in the past 18 months.

But the tipping point was more than vanity.

Just some of the pictures taken by Max as she lost 11 stone

The 5ft 5in mum-of-two realised she needed to tackle her expanding body when her two sons, Luke, nine, and Jack, seven, could not even get their arms around her to give her a hug.

Max, from St Andrew’s Road, Barming, attempted every diet going until, weighing 22 stone and 2.5lbs, she finally opted for a gastric bypass in November 2011.

The operation saw doctors re-route her digestive system past most of her stomach, meaning she digests less food and feels full after smaller amounts.

“I tried everything, I was constantly on a diet or going to slimming clubs,” she said.

“I lost my brother when I was 16, my mum was grieving and I was on my own a lot and I comfort ate. It just carried on from there.

“Eventually my doctor suggested the bypass.

“I was absolutely terrified. I cried all the way from Maidstone to Chichester, where the operation was happening.”

But despite Max’s fears, the procedure was a success. Since losing the weight, constant pains in her back and knees have disappeared.

“Everyone said that you can be sick a lot after having the operation. But I have been so lucky, I haven’t been sick once. I feel just amazing now.”

Max, 42, is determined not to start piling on the pounds again.

Although the bypass has almost completely killed her appetite, she refuses to allow herself chocolate, cakes or ice cream.

Husband of 12 years, Peter, 52, said he was very proud of his 11 stone 2.5lbs wife – who is now more than three stone lighter than when the couple met.

Max added: “Both my children can get their arms around me now. It is lovely.”