The Duchess of Cambridge may think the hard part of becoming a new mum is giving birth... but as one young south London mother found out, getting your figure back afterwards can even tougher.

Like Kate and William, Jeanne Yarde, 32, and partner Ian, 38, couldn’t wait for their first baby’s birth. But just ten weeks before daughter Kasey’s arrival two years ago, the couple were made redundant from the company where they both worked.

Ill with worry, Jeanne from Belvedere in Bexley, began to comfort eat during the remainder of her pregnancy – a pattern that continued after Kasey’s birth and saw her weight increase from 12 stones to over 15 stones.

“We both had really good jobs before being made redundant, so we were well set up financially - then it all went,” said Jeanne.

“I was so worried and depressed I just sat at home and ate.”

Ian eventually got a new job as a catering warehouse manager and a few months after Kasey was born, Jeanne got a job – in a factory that made sausage rolls!

“It was the worst place to be – I was surrounded by food,” said Jeanne.

“ Then I got a new job, so I thought: right, I am going to start this job and go on a diet.”

Jeanne had been to Slimming World years before but she was delighted to find when she rejoined last November that their new system allows you to eat lots of healthy food, provides you with plenty of support and encourages you to stay active.

“The Slimming World plan is really easy to follow - you just eat normally,” explained Jeanne who is now a Consultant with the Welling branch.

“I can still go out for meals I and I don’t feel I’m deprived of anything. It changed me so much - I got my figure back, gave me confidence and I’ve got so much energy now It made me want to help other people the way I’ve been helped, so I trained to be a Slimming World consultant.”

Kasey says she and her family are now eating healthily thanks to the Slimming World eating plan and recipes. She’s now only seven pounds away from her 12 stone target weight but she’s doing so well she’s now thinking of lowering the target and carrying on.

A big plus from joining her local Slimming World group was the sense of community support that it gave Jeanne.

“I am surrounded by so many positive people – the positivity that comes from going along to the group is just amazing.”

To find your local branch of Slimming world visit www.slimmingworld.com