RUNNING for a bus used to be the limit of her exercise regime. Now 39-year-old Liz Ratcliffe is training for the London Marathon.

But Liz is a lot lighter on her feet these days after shedding five and a half stone in weight.

The super slimmer who lives in Lymington has dropped from a size 28 to a size 16 in the space of 24 weeks.

Liz was referred by her GP to local nutritional consultant, Fiona Lennon for symptoms ranging from depression to lack of energy.

“Apparently my adrenal glands were not working properly either – it was the culmination of stress, drinking lots of caffeine and diet drinks. I had also been suffering with depression for a while too.”

For the past few months Liz has been attending Fiona’s weekly Weight & Health Class based at Ringwood, which is a lifestyle class looking at nutrition, exercise, stress and relaxation.

Liz, who will be raising money for Guide Dogs for the Blind when she competes in the 26-mile marathon next month, says the eating plan Fiona suggested is easy to follow and doesn’t feel like a diet.

“I have a history of comfort eating and I have battled with my weight for years. I have tried various diets over the years which tend to be calorie counting or omitting certain foods.

“But I would lose the weight and then put it all on again and some. It was the same pattern for years, but Fiona is highly qualified and understands how different foods affect the body.

“Although she takes a scientific approach she translates it in a way that you can understand – she gives you far more of an insight than you would get at a regular slimming club.”

Fiona herself understands how it feels to be laid low with a chronic illness as she was unwell for six years with ME. As a result of her condition Fiona decided on a career change so she studied to become a nutritionist.

“I have always been interested in food but it wasn’t until I studied nutrition that I understood how we are affected bio-chemically by different foods.

“This course is based on low GI eating and is about giving people knowledge and support. It’s not about a change in will power – it’s the chemical balance of the body that changes. After a while people’s palates start to change.

“We do a different topic each week from learning about good and bad carbohydrates, eating out and socialising to exercise so people then have the tools to change their lives.”

Meanwhile Liz is enjoying her new found fitness so much she has signed up for half a dozen races this year. She plans to run the Amsterdam Marathon in October when she reaches her target weight loss of nine stone.

“I have never felt so good,” she says.

“If I can conquer the marathon I can conquer depression. I never thought I could do it but this isn’t hard. It’s just about getting the right advice and nutrition. Anybody can do this.”