CARA Bayliss has turned her life around.

The Ebbw Vale mum-of-one has gone from a size 18 to a size 10 since joining a fitness class earlier this year.

She suffered “baby blues” and bouts of depression after giving birth to 14-month-old Olivia and lacked the confidence to go outside.

Miss Bayliss, from Hilltop, said: “I was always bullied at school. People would say, ‘fatty’, ‘big bum’ and ‘thunder thighs’. I had no confidence at all. I dressed in big, baggy clothes that weren’t really fashionable.

“I hated leaving the house, always wanting to hide away. I was extremely depressed and felt low and worthless. After having my daughter I suffered with baby blues, I never left the house, I lived in my PJs, I cried every day and was paranoid my partner would leave me because of the way I looked.”

She weighed 14 st 4 lb when she joined the Slimming World programme in Ebbw Vale in February, but now weighs around 11 stones. She puts this down to a healthy diet and an increase in home-cooked food for herself and her daughter.

"Before I joined I couldn't cook, we used to eat out most days or get a takeaway. Now I love making chilli and mushy pea curry," she said.

At one point, Miss Bayliss’ weight even affected the way she was around her own daughter. She added: “I would struggle getting up off the floor if I ever got down to play with my daughter. I got out of breath easily.”

But since joining, the 24-year-old has lost more than three stones, and after initially struggling to find work after being unemployed for a long period, Miss Bayliss has now secured a job as a shop assistant.

“Now I’ve lost my weight, I feel on top of the world,” she added. “I am just loving life.”

“I didn’t have any hobbies or interests before. Now, I love shopping, socialising and walking. If I can walk anywhere now I will rather that than take the car.

“I never want to go back to the way I was. I am far more comfortable with my body now.”