Annette is half the woman she used to be!

MUM-OF-TWO Annette Rankin is half the woman she used to be after shedding an incredible 11 stone.

Annette, from Glasgow, was shamed into changing her ways after failing to fit into her husband’s XXL hoodie while on a family holiday to Blackpool.

Having tipped the scales at almost 23 stone at her heaviest, Annette completely altered her diet and exercise regime.

She now works out seven days a week, three of them with trainer Daniel Jackson. Now, just weeks away from turning 50, she’ll today compete in her first powerlifting competition having already completed her first triathlon less than a month ago.

“Before we used to spend a lot of time eating out or just watching television,” Annette told The Sunday Post. “Now it’s like I am living someone else’s life. It feels good but I almost don’t recognise myself.”

The Blackpool embarrassment made Annette enlist the help of a personal trainer but her pound-shedding triumph hasn’t been without its ups and downs.

One family holiday saw her put on a stone-and-a-half in just a week. “I came to the next training session and it took an hour of tears to get me on to the scales,” said Annette, who has two kids Shaun, 19, and Chris, 17, with husband Stuart, 47.

She now limits the amount of fats and carbohydrates she consumes, while getting as much protein into her diet as she possibly can. It’s all helped her achieve a trim size 12 figure.

She said: “I can now buy clothes. Before I used to look to see what they had in my size and take it, whereas now I can go anywhere and pick anything. It’s costing me a fortune!”

As her weight fell, Annette’s confidence grew and she admitted: “I used to have to go to the gym with a friend so it was almost like there was someone to hide behind. I still don’t like going on my own, but I can do it now.”

And she has one piece of advice for anyone in a similar situation. “There is no quick fix. I’m regularly asked what my secret is or ‘what’s the magic pill?’ Hard work and commitment is the answer.”

The powerlifting event – the Scottish Seniors Champ-ionships – will take place at Bells Sports Centre in Perth. Annette admitted: “I’m feeling anxious because it’s my first one.”

Annette completed last month’s super-sprint triathlon in an impressive one hour three minutes, despite being previously unable to swim.

“When I crossed the line and saw my youngest son I was more emotional than I’ve ever been.”

Annette says she has only one regret. “I just wish I had done it sooner.”