A BINGE eater turned marathon runner has set up a support group to help people with processed food addictions.
Sarah-Jane Clark, age 52, has lost more than 12 stone by sticking to a gradual fitness regime and is now on a mission to help others make life-changing lifestyle choices.
The fitness mentor said she developed a comfort eating habit growing up, where she would secretly eat enormous amounts of processed food which led to feelings of low self-esteem and self loathe.
In her mid-twenties her periods completely stopped so she went to a GP and was made to step on some scales which revealed that she was 21 stone and 10 pounds.
The GP told her that if she did not lose weight she would not make it to the age of 40.
This incident kickstarted her fitness journey, which started with slow 20-30 minute walks, and after two weeks she began to feel stronger and less breathless.
She then started increasing her water intake alongside her walks and said that the gradual changes like this were key to her success.
At 40 she got into running and has now completed multiple half marathons and marathons.
Three years ago she set up a Facebook group called Step by step with Sarah-Jane which now has more than 1,500 members.
She said: "My top tip for anyone who is trying to lose weight is do not try to change several things at once, this leads to overwhelming feelings, and this can trigger a binge.
"Just change one thing at a time, once you can feel improvements it really motivates you to change the next thing.
"I have worked with people of all ages, from teenagers to young mums to people in their sixties.
"You are never too old to learn new habits and I am living proof that you can transform your health and fitness."
Sarah-Jane, from Swindon, will be running a five-week food addiction course at Cricklade Leisure Centre starting from Tuesday, April 9 at 7.30pm.
She says the course is open to everyone but would be particularly beneficial to serial yo-yo dieters and people who binge eat when they are emotional.
In addition, the fitness mentor will also be taking part in The Cotswold Way Challenge with 11 others on Saturday, June 22.
The walk will start in Cirencester and end in Painswick and Sarah-Jane, who both her mum and sister to cancer, is undertaking the challenge to raise money for Cancer Research.
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