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Super slimmer sheds 11 STONE after becoming so big she couldn't fit in airplane seat

Formerly 22 stone Claire Coles, 36, was horrified after booking a dream holiday to Egypt with her husband Neil only to discover she couldn't not get the seatbelt to reach around her size 28 bulk

Claire Coles at 22 stone during a holiday to Egypt (right), and after her dramatic weight loss (left) (SWNS)

Super slimmer Claire Coles was shamed into shedding half her body weight - after becoming too big to fit into an airplane seat.

Claire's waistline ballooned to 52in as she guzzled a gut-busting diet of takeaways, chocolates and crisps.

But Claire, 36, was horrified after booking a dream holiday to Egypt with her husband Neil only to discover she couldn't not get the seatbelt to reach around her size 28 bulk.

The plane's crew were eventually able to secure tearful Claire into her seat with a special extended harness.

But the humiliation last January left her determined to slash her daily intake of 10,000 calories and turn her life around.

Claire, a charity officer from Exeter, Devon, said: 'I couldn't fit into the seat, and after the embarrassment of asking for a seat belt extender, it was still a very tight fit.

'I was so ashamed as I was overflowing onto the person sat next to me.

'It was horrendous, I just wanted the floor to open up and swallow me, I spent the five hours of the flight in tears.

'It was at that point I thought enough is enough, I need to drastically change my life.

'I was emotionally eating because I was so unhappy, ironically using food to make me happy.

'I would secret eat and hide food. I had a very unhealthy relationship with food.'

Claire weighed a massive 22st and 10lbs at her heaviest - but just a year-and-a-half later she is a trim 11 stone.

She used to eat takeaways and McDonald's for breakfast lunch and dinner, along with sweets, chocolate bars and crisps.


[Calls to ban car run to school gates]

But after swapping calorie-crammed snacks for salads, fruit and veg, Claire lost 20in from her waist and is a svelte size 10.

Claire is now helping others lose weight as a slimming consultant at Cambridge Weight Plan in Exeter.

And her last flight abroad was a totally different experience.


She said: 'Not only was I able to get the seatbelt around me, there was loads of room to spare.

'I remember like it was yesterday just how embarrassed and sad I felt on the last flight. It makes me proud of what I have achieved and excited about all the new experiences I will have now I slim and healthy.