WHEN five-year-old Josh described his mum Tina Walsh as 'chubby' she dissolved into tears - but resolved to do something about her weight problem.

Her little lad was devastated to make his mum cry but his words were to prove a turning point in Tina's life.

"I reassured him and told him that Mummy had always taught him to tell the truth, but sometimes the truth hurts.

"Those words were just what I needed. He was just about to start school and I didn't want him worrying that his friends would take the mickey out of me because I was so big," she said.

Single mum Tina, 39, from Southampton had ballooned to 18 stone.

She blamed a reliance on take- away meals and was growing more and more unhappy with her shape.

"I was so grossly overweight I found it difficult to walk to the bus stop and I couldn't do anything with Josh. He wanted me to play football with him - but I couldn't. It got so bad that I wouldn't even go upstairs and play with him because of the effort of climbing the stairs," said Tina, who works as a medical secretary for the paediatric cancer unit at Southampton General Hospital.

Tina had always battled with her weight and has tried every diet in a bid to get into shape.

"The weight crept on over the years but I would deny to myself that I had a problem.

"I felt I was 18 years old inside and smaller than a size 18 dress size," she said.

By the time Tina joined the Slimming World group that meets at Lordswood Community Centre she was wearing a size 24/26 dress and feeling thoroughly miserable.

"I started with Slimming World in the summer of 2003. We had experienced a really early summer and I can remember the girls at work used to go for lunch in the cemetery.

"But I couldn't go. It was so hot and my breathing was so laboured so I stayed in the office.

"I knew at that time I had to do something about my weight and what Josh said to me made me even more determined.

"I was a typically big girl and take-aways were my downfall. I was working full-time and doing things for Josh and rushing about on the school run.

"I liked cooking but it was easier to rely on take-away meals

"The way I was going I was killing myself slowly. My skin, hair and nails were terrible and I suffered terribly with asthma," she said.

Since losing the weight, Tina and Josh have enjoyed a new lease of life.

"I feel great - this is the best thing I have ever done.

"Our quality of life has improved so much. At one time I couldn't run and play football or play tennis on the green.

"Now I can do all those things. We cycle everywhere and we love going to the Sports Centre together.

"We play crazy golf and have a great time together - I even took part in the Race for Life last year," she said.

To mark Tina's amazing achievement, Living arranged for her to have a make-over at Debenhams.

She had her hair done at the Regis salon and her makeup was done by Fay Rhodes on the Chanel counter.

Personal shopper Emma chose some new clothes for Tina to try on and she came away with some valuable tips.

"I really enjoyed the experience - it was nice to have something for me and to be made to feel so special.

"Emma chose some things that I wouldn't normally try but I bought one of the items because I liked it so much.

"I'm now a size 10/12 and I don't know how I ever carried all that weight.

"My friend worked out the other day that it was like me walking round with her daughter on my back.

"I've still got a little way to go until I get down to the weight I want to be.

"And the best part is Josh now says he is really proud of me," she said.