SARAH Bown is enjoying a 'new lease of life' after shedding an incredible eight stone during lockdown.

The 29-year-old said she now looks so different even her own nan "did a double-take" when she saw her for the first time.

Sarah, a dog welfare assistant from Greasby, had struggled to shift her weight despite being vegetarian and now a committed vegan.

Having landed her dream job at Friends of Birkenhead Kennels she needed to be fit and healthy, but in doing so much for the dogs, Sarah lost sight of her own needs and her weight spiralled out of control.

So much so, that keeping up at work became difficult.

At her heaviest, Sarah weighed in at 21 stone and was wearing size 22 clothing.

She said: "I love my job and I love the animals that I work with, but after spending all day taking care of sick and stray animals' health, I was neglecting my own."

Sarah had tried dieting and various weight-loss plans to try and shed the pounds, but even after deciding to go vegan over a year ago, nothing seemed to have an effect on her waistline.

"As I continued to gain weight, it became harder and harder to muster up the energy to go to the gym or to get through a tough day of work with the dogs.

"I was starting to feel really miserable, and my self-confidence was at an all-time low."

Frustrated and exhausted, Sarah confided in a friend who suggested she booked into her local Bodyline Clinic in Birkenhead.

Sarah said: "I was reluctant at first and felt nervous going to the clinic, but when I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised.

"The nurse was great, I didn't feel silly asking any questions and I left with a prescription for Diethylpropion."

She said the appetite-suppressing qualities in her medication stopped the food cravings almost instantly.

She continued: "Looking back, I can see now that my portion sizes were my downfall.

"I was piling my plate full of what I thought were healthy foods and not realising what it would do to my body. In between meals I would snack out of boredom."

Eight months on, Sarah now weighs just 13 stone.

That’s an incredible loss of eight stone and counting.

"I've got a little way to go until I reach my target, but I've lost almost half of my original body weight and I can't wipe the smile off my face!

"Lockdown was actually a godsend and I was really given time to be able to focus on looking after me.

"When I'm out walking the dogs, I pass by close friends and they don't even recognise me anymore.

"I've lost that much weight, even my own nan had to do a double-take when she saw me for the first time after lockdown.

"When I leave the house, I never feel self-conscious anymore. And when I throw on a summer dress and look in the mirror, I think I look quite pretty.

"Now, I can get through every day at work without feeling tired out and I have lots more energy to exercise. It's fantastic!

"I'm so much more confident in my day-to-day life.

"I have more energy to take care of the animals that are so close to my heart, and enough extra to spend some time taking care of myself too.

"I have a new lease of life and I can't wait to see what's in store for me!"