A TIVERTON slimmer has discovered less is more after losing over seven stone to win the title of Woman of the Year 2014.

Lucy Gilson lost 7st 4lbs with her local Slimming World group in Tiverton, at the British Legion Hall daytime group and has dropped from 18st 6.5lbs to 11st 2lbs in just 16 months.

Now her fellow slimmers have voted her as their representative in the annual Slimming World Woman of the Year 2014 competition.

Lucy joined Slimming World in April 2013 after becoming increasingly unhappy with her size - she said: “I started to put on weight when at school, I fell into the trap of comfort eating, the bullying was awful.

“I tried lots of different diets but they usually left me feeling hungry and miserable.

“Slimming World is completely different, I never have to miss out or feel deprived and after losing over 100lbs, I'm the slimmest - and the happiest - I've been in years.”

The 27 year-old follows Slimming World's Food Optimising eating plan, which encourages slimmers to fill up on satisfying yet healthy everyday foods like fruit and veg, lean meat and fish, pasta, potatoes, rice and pulses without having to weigh or measure.

She's cut out many of the convenience foods and sugary snacks she used to rely on and loves trying out all the delicious healthy recipes she picks up from other members at her Slimming World group.

She said: “My family and friends are all amazed how much I can eat and still lose weight. They can't believe it's all healthy food because it tastes so good.

“I still eat all the same meals that I did before but now I cook and prepare them differently, I cook from scratch instead of relying on ready meals and convenience foods like jars of sauce and really enjoy creating huge filling, syn free meals I can eat without feeling guilty."

Now Lucy will go forward to the regional finals of the competition, putting her in the running for the national title. The national Slimming World Woman of the Year 2014 will be announced in November and the winner will take home £5,000.