WHEN Alison Fox looked at the pictures of her holding her newborn nephew for the very first time, she must have been as proud as punch.
Instead, she was horrified.
Having reached a large weight of 21 stone, the picture reduced her to tears.
However it was the motivation she needed to ditch the junk food and begin shedding the pounds.
A year on, she's lost a staggering 8st 11lbs.
"I was absolutely disgusted with myself when I checked out the pictures," said Alison, of Mansfield Road in Nottingham.
"I just couldn't accept is as true. I hated the way i looked and that i hadn't realised how bad it had got."
At that time, Alison made a pact, promising herself she'd turn her life around.
However it was another three months before she plucked in the courage to visit a nearby WeightWatchers meeting.
She added: "I was absolutely terrified. I had been so embarrassed incidentally I looked and I was worried everyone was going to judge me.
"I made my boyfriend include me and he sat outside while the meeting happening.
"But I did not have to be nervous.
"I remember my leader Tracy saying it might be ok.
"I ended up losing seven pounds in my first week."
Since then, Alison has made a "complete lifestyle change" and it has thrown herself into healthy eating.
The 27-year-old, who comes from Ontario in Canada, was bullied at school on her weight, leaving her with low self confidence.
She says that managed to get even more difficult to try and slim down.
She added: "Because from the bullying, I'd go back home from soccer practice and start eating to create myself feel good.
"It didn't matter what anyone did to cheer me up - it had been a vicious circle."
But having found WeightWatchers - and sticking to their eating plan - Alison is becoming almost unrecognisable.
She said: "My confidence is slowly going up. Sometimes I try looking in the mirror and I don't recognise myself.
"In my head all I see may be the 21-stone girl. It will take a while to really sink in.
"One of the best things ever was when I went the place to find Canada at Christmas.
"I was having fun with my two nephews and I could get them and run around together.
"That's all I ever wanted - to be able to chase after those boys.
"It's nice to know I'm doing everything I possibly can to make sure I'm able to watch my nephews becoming an adult."
Alison's boyfriend Tom Humphries said he was "incredibly proud" of her achievement.
The 27-year-old added: "She's got a lot more confidence now.
"I would always pay her compliments and I know she appreciated them, but I think she believes them now.
"She's more prepared to venture out now - it's amazing to see her happier in herself."
Alison's WeightWatchers leader Tracy Dickinson added: "When Alison first came to my WeightWatchers meeting, she thought it was difficult to look at the scales as her weight was the largest issue in her own life and she or he cried saying that she'd been bullied due to her size for most of her lifetime.
"In recent times, Alison has transformed. She's grown into the most confident and stunning young lady."