WHEN Tracy Harker, a 51-year-old business development manager from Dursley, married her husband Alan they vowed they’d celebrate in style if they ever hit the 20 milestone. But complications after donating a kidney to Alan, left Tracy living off greasy takeaways and ballooning up to a size 20.

“Alan and I got married in 1988 and we were blissfully happy,” she said. “He was in the RAF for 17 years, which meant lots of fantastic postings around the UK and overseas.”

But in 2001 - out of the blue - they were hit with another bombshell whenAlan was diagnosed with renal failure and they were told that unless a suitable donor was found he might die.

“We were told about live donor transplants and after tests found out I was a good match, so I stepped forward and we had the op,” Tracey added.

“While that made him feel so much better, unfortunately I had a few problems following the op and needed two corrective ops to correct an incisional hernia along with other complications, so it was disappointing that my gift to Alan didn't go as smoothly as expected.

However, despite this, Tracey says that she wouldn’t hesitate to donate even knowing what she knows now.

Tracey added: “Looking back, that was the springboard for my comfort eating and weight gain. My job – as a lecturer in a college – was very stressful, and at the same time I couldn’t do any exercise, Alan was still far from well and I felt my diet was the last worry in the world. I’d pretty much live off takeaways and chocolate and gradually gained more weight.”

In 2008 the couple were hit with another bombshell when Alan was told he had Lymphoma and would need six months of chemotherapy.

“Of course that sent me into another spiral of comfort eating,” Tracey said. “I went up to over 14 and a half stone, wearing lots of dark colours and layers to hide my size 20 clothes.

“I tried all the usual diets like Weight Watchers and Slimming World, but would hit a target at a weigh-in and then reward myself on the way home with a takeaway! It was two steps forwards, two steps back.

“But that summer we also realised it was our 20th wedding anniversary coming up and we both said we were still together – and in love – despite all our problems, and pledged we’d go through with the party, come what may.”

In the August Tracey joined LighterLife, attending weekly sessions at their centre in Chipping Sodbury. By the time of their party on October 10 Tracey had lost over four stone.

Tracey said: “Now I’ve re-educated myself on healthy carbs, protein and hydration, so didn’t fall back into bad ways. I carried on with my LighterLife sessions as wanted to give back support to others, many of whom became really close friends. I’d got down to 9st 10lbs and fitted into size 10 clothes, smaller than I’d been since my early 20s!”

Tracy attended weekly group counselling sessions with Natalie Freeman at the LighterLife centre in Chipping Sodbury. To enquire or book a free consultation call 0800 2 988 988 or visit lighterlife.com.