A forklift driving mum whose job is all about moving heavy loads has managed to shift an impressive 7st – and the slimmer is not stopping there.

Sam Kubiak has spoken about how her impending wedding day and the birth of her son inspired her to lose weight.

Two years ago, 33-year-old tipped the scales at 18st 7lb so she joined the Slimming World class at Fulston Manor School.

The former Sittingbourne Community College pupil grew up in Murston before moving to Nettle Way, Minster, where she lives with fiancé Michael – who she will marry in April.

Mrs Kubiak, who now weighs 11st 1lb, is looking to get down to about 8st before the big day.

More motivation came from the imminent arrival of her son, which saw her join the slimming group in January 2017.

She returned to work loading and unloading HGVs at Floplast on the Eurolink Industrial Estate, after having son Callum, now aged two.

The firm, where she has worked for the past six years, offered her the chance to get her forklift licence.

She said: “I love what I do and they have been very supportive of me.

“I had a bad pregnancy towards the end which meant I couldn’t walk very far, so I was stuck at home a lot on maternity leave and eating too much through boredom.

“I’m so much healthier and happier now. I’m not tired and I feel so much fitter and gained so much confidence in myself.

“Now I can chase my son around and do everyday things with my child.

“I didn’t want Callum to grow up in a house where he thought that behaviour was normal.”

She added that viewing old albums can sometimes be difficult.

Mrs Kubiak said: “Looking at old pictures I just feel embarrassed.

“I think it’s mainly embarrassment and upset that I had let myself get to that point.

“When I was at my biggest I was wearing clothes which were a size 24 and now I’m fitting in items which are between eight and 12.

“It’s fantastic when I go in a shop because when you’re big you get a feeling they’re looking at you thinking ‘we don’t do clothes for you’.

“Now I have so much more confidence in myself and I don’t worry.

"And my forklift no longer needs to hide my weight, as I’ve shifted it all."

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