Nicola Hamilton has gone from a size 30 to a size 16 after embarking on an ambitious plan with Slimming World. It is all a far cry from her darkest hour, when she found herself on the job hunt in 2011.

The 37-year-old told the Post: “I went to one job interview in an old city centre building, the kind with four floors but no lift. It was roasting hot, I squeezed into my outfit, jacket and bag.

“By the time I got half way to the third floor I knew I wasn’t going to make it any further. I was so breathless I couldn’t even speak so there was no chance I could get through the interview.

“I started to panic, I thought I was going to faint because I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs. My body started to go into meltdown and I had a full-blown panic attack in the stairway.

“I was ushered into a small office, given a glass of water and some sympathy. That was the end of the interview.” Devastated, Nicola fell into a cycle of binge-eating in an attempt to make herself feel better — but it had the opposite effect and she grew bigger and more depressed during a depressing four-month period.

Work did come with an outsourcing company and with it came a chance to dress up. “Every year my work has a black tie ball, it’s our equivalent of the Oscars,” she reflected.

“My manager was unable to attend so three others and myself were to get up on stage on his behalf. I had managed to squeeze myself into a size 28 dress.

“I felt fantastic and even posed for photographs but when the time came I was so self-conscious of my size I refused to get up on stage. Something had to change.” Desperate to turn around her life, and with the extra motivation of her wedding to love-of-her-life Alan, Nicola decided to get in touch with Kirsty Malcolm at Slimming World. She started attending in October 2013 — and she has not looked back.

She said: “I listened to incredible stories the other members were telling of huge weight losses that I couldn’t even imagine. I was really apprehensive and didn’t think I would manage to lose anything but after two weeks I had already lost half a stone. That encouraged me to carry on and see how much further I could go.

“As the pounds and stones started to fall off I became part of the group. I knew everyone’s names and their stories, and was encouraged by everyone to keep going even when times were rough.

“I was spurred on by the idea that I had to pay an extra £200 to get my already costly dress altered because I was bigger than the biggest size they could manufacture.

“By the time my wedding came round my dress was too big for me. If I had known then that Slimming World was going to be so successful for me I would have told them not to alter the dress.” There have been ups and downs for the slimmer since that time including the loss of her father, but she credits the support of her family and those at Slimming World for helping her stay focused and not resort to old eating habits.

Having smashed her six-stone weight loss target, life has totally changed for Nicola. No food is off limits, meaning favourites like chicken curry, mince and potatoes and spaghetti bolognese are all on the menu.

It has helped the slimmer enjoy a better quality of life. She added: “I did a 5k for Cancer Research UK and I’m quite comfortable cycling 20 miles or so without worrying about making it back home.

“I love this plan, and I love Kirsty, she’s been absolutely fantastic throughout my entire journey and is much more than just a consultant. She has become part of my life, I am proud to say that she has also become a friend.

“I can’t thank her enough for all the effort and support she brings.” Kirsty Malcolm’s Slimming World groups meet at 9.30am, 11.30am, 5.30pm and 7.30pm every Wednesday in Partick South Church, 259 Dumbarton Road.