The 33-year-old dental nurse, says: "I had always been slim as a teenager and in my twenties but I began to put on a bit.

"It wasn't until I went on holiday with my girlfriends at the end of last summer that I realised just how big I'd got."

Claire, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, continues: "We were in Marbella in Spain where it was really glamorous.

"Round the pool in our bikinis it was pretty obvious I was the fattest in the group and I just felt awful.

"I resolved there and then that when I was next lying by a pool I'd be fit and healthy and looking good again.

"I'm 5ft 5in and went from 12st and a size 14-16 to 9st and size 10.

"I'm now ready for the beach in Goa when I go on my summer hols with my mum."

DIET PROBLEM

CLAIRE says: "I never ate breakfast and usually went until lunchtime surviving on teas - all with two sugars.

"I would have about six mugs a day. Lunch would be a crispy bacon and mushroom sandwich, crisps, a Wispa bar and a can of cola.

"In the afternoon we'd get cakes from the bakery or have biscuits with our tea and in the evening, twice a week at least, I'd have McDonald's or KFC.

"Saturday night was full-on Chinese, such as crispy seaweed, crispy duck, chicken satay and fried rice.

"Most Fridays and Saturdays I'd have four big glasses of wine and I'd snack on custard cream biscuits.

"On ordinary nights I'd have meat and potatoes - I don't like veg. I hadn't realised what I was eating until I decided to lose weight. To be honest, it shocked me."

DIET SOLUTION

DIET expert Amanda Ursell says: "Claire needed to start her day with breakfast.

"There is lots of research to show that it not only makes you more alert in the morning ahead but also that breakfast-eaters tend to be slimmer than breakfast-skippers.

"Even a piece of wholegrain toast before leaving home can make a difference.

"Next the sugary tea had to go. By swapping to ordinary tea with skimmed milk, Claire would save 1,050 calories over her five-day working week.

"Then we had to work on some much-needed lunch swaps.

"By trading in her crispy bacon sandwich for a ham and mustard sandwich, having a yogurt and apple instead of a chocolate bar, baked crisps instead of standard crisps and water instead of cola, she would save another 3,260 calories each working week.

Claire's new menu:

BREAKFAST: Low-fat cereal bar, tea. Mid-am: Satsuma
LUNCH: Ham sandwich, or ham bagel, an apple and water.
MID-PM: Diluted orange juice
DINNER: Smaller portion of roast meat and potatoes with diluted blackcurrant squash.
TELLY SNACK: A few crackers

"These tea and lunch changes alone meant Claire was able to shed more than a pound of fat a week.

"She shifted a lot more, however, by avoiding the McDonald's and KFC takeaways.

"Instead of just meat and roast potatoes, Claire was able to try things like stir fries with noodles, shepherd's pie and spaghetti bolognese which also contain vegetables, but not in any obvious way.

"The Chinese on a Saturday night was fine. She just needed to change her order.

"While crispy seaweed can easily have 400 calories plus per serving, a crab soup has only 150.

"Swapping crispy fried duck and fried rice to a beef in oyster sauce dish with steamed rice saved 1,000 calories.

"All of these changes added up over the week and helped her to shift 2-3lb while gradually helping improve her diet by introducing some fruit and vegetables and cutting fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt."

FITNESS PROBLEM

CLAIRE says: "When I was younger and went out clubbing, I never had an issue with my weight.

"I also didn't have a car at the time, which meant I used to walk just about everywhere.

"But when I swapped clubbing for pub-going and then learnt how to drive, the weight seemed to pile on pretty quickly.

"I've got a gym membership, but I never use it."

FITNESS SOLUTION

FITNESS expert Nicki Waterman says: "Studies show just ten minutes of exercise can spark your va-va-voom for four hours.

"Just a half-hour of well-executed strength work is enough to elevate your metabolism for nearly 40 hours, so you burn more calories, even while you sleep."
How to get started

1. No slouching. Keep your spine straight, your shoulders down and your chin lifted in every activity, whether you do it at the gym, work, in the car or at home.

2. Determine which part of the day suits your body and lifestyle and do workouts then.

Late afternoon is preferable since body temperature and muscle flexibility increase during the day.

But research shows morning exercisers stick to programmes better as events don't interrupt them. It's all relative. If you are a lark or an owl, go with how you feel.

3. Keep gym sessions to less than an hour. This is better for you physiologically and more acceptable psychologically. You won't be dragging your feet to the gym if you know it will be over in a flash.

4. If you're feeling gym-weary, take some outdoor recreational exercise to reignite your passion.

A bit of natural light - even at this time of year - will rouse your senses.

Coming into spring is a great time to seek out a group fitness environment, such as a running or triathlon club.

Other people around you can keep you motivated, even when you feel like giving up.

Ask if your gym organises any activities, or log on to timeoutdoors.com.

FASHION PROBLEM

CLAIRE says: "I rarely wear anything other than jeans.

"After living in dark, baggy clothes to disguise my belly and bum, I'm still feeling like I should cover up a bit.

"But I'm only young and want a new look that will make me feel - and look - amazing."

FASHION SOLUTION

FASHION Editor Erica Davies says: "Claire is mad to cover up her fabulous legs.

"Women would kill for pins like hers, so it is senseless to stick to jeans and trousers all the time.

"We need to show Claire that pretty dresses are a great, feminine alternative for evening wear.

"She has neat shoulders and a petite frame that works so well with bandeau styles like this orange dress from Rare Fashion.

"With a lovely tan, Claire can easily get away with this as a stunning evening look.

"The black sash draws attention to her tiny waist which she used to cover up with baggy tops.

"And Claire should check out Monsoon for fab floral-print dresses like the one in the pic at the top. It is perfect for spring.

"The girly design can be toughened up by chunky platforms, like these from Office.

"But it really makes the most of her curves as well as being a totally new look for her."

Top outfit: Floral off-the-shoulder dress, £60, Monsoon; shoes, £40, Schuh; bangle, £10, Freedom at Topshop

Second outfit: Orange bandeau dress, £40, Rare Fashion; shoes, £70, Office

Claire's verdict and top tips:

CLAIRE says: "I feel loads more confident and can't wait for my summer holidays.

"I don't feel as if I'm ‘on a diet', just that I eat differently.

"I love wearing nice little outfits these days and not having to cover up my bloated, fat tummy. It's great.

"But you must exercise! It makes you feel better and gets everything feeling toned.

"I tried a product called Perfect 10 for a few months.

"Taking a few tablets before lunch and dinner helped me to learn to control my appetite.

"You can get them at perfect10shape.com.

"I still have the odd treat like a takeaway but I save it for the weekends and only on a Saturday night, not Friday and Sunday too.

"Remember that although you think healthy eating is expensive, you save money by not buying take-outs and junk."