A mum who once hid chocolate wrappers in her car has lost nearly five stone.
Leanne Topping, a 34-year-old hairdresser from Droitwich and mum-of-two, shed the weight through Evolve Weight Loss, dropping from 15st 2lb to 10st 4lb and slimming from a size 18-20 to a size 10.
She said: "Food doesn't feel like an enemy any more."
Her story is featured in this week’s edition of Bella magazine.
Mrs Topping had struggled with secret eating since childhood, often consuming multipacks of chocolate in her car after leaving the salon.
Weight gain accelerated after the birth of her two children and during the pandemic.
By March 2024, her knees were so swollen she could barely walk, and an MRI showed her kneecap had begun to wear away.
A family photo at Christmas 2024 was the final push she needed.
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Friends recommended Evolve Weight Loss, and she joined the Thursday evening group in Droitwich, led by founder Jen Flannigan.
The programme focused on portion control rather than food restrictions.
Mrs Topping began weighing pasta and rice, adding more vegetables to family meals, and still enjoying chocolate in moderation.
She lost two stone by June 2025 and reached her goal weight 15 months after joining the group.
Last Christmas, she managed to stop after a couple of Quality Street chocolates rather than finishing the tub.
The biggest change, she said, has been at home.
She used to ask friends to delete photos of her, but last Christmas she danced around the kitchen while cooking lunch, with her children telling her she was fun.
Jen Flannigan, founder of Evolve Weight Loss, said: "Leanne's story is exactly why I started Evolve.
"I lost five stone myself after years of yo-yo dieting, and I know how exhausting it is to hide.
"Leanne didn't need another strict diet, she needed support that didn't make her feel ashamed. She did the hard work, and we're so proud of her."
Evolve Weight Loss runs weekly meet-ups in Droitwich, Longbridge, Bartley Green and Redditch, as well as an online group for members further afield.
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