Mum and daughter Kay and Natalie Dean are on a mission to slim down and get fit, writes Cathy Buss. They are taking part in the Mercury-backed Fit2Win Challenge with Rosemary Conley, which is helping people across Leicestershire to shed excess weight and shape up.

Chocolate has been almost banned from their Groby home and, within the first few weeks, they have seen both pounds and inches start to slip away.

Natalie, 27, said: "About three years ago, I put on a lot of weight when I moved in with my partner and got to about 17st. I did try dieting and managed to get down to about 13st but then my weight just seemed to plateau.

"I tried the same old things but they just weren't working."

Her weight did not improve when she found herself moving back in with her mum.

"The trouble is, Mum and I both like chocolate and we were just eating the wrong things," said Natalie. "So we both decided to try the Fit2Win Challenge."

Natalie has already won a slimmer of the week award and she and Kay are going to Rosemary Conley exercise classes three times a week.

She has also taken over cooking at home and is working her way through recipes produced by Rosemary, Leicestershire's diet and fitness guru.

"I'm really enjoying the cooking and I've got my slimmer award certificate pinned on the fridge," said Natalie.

"Mum and I are going to exercise classes three times a week and I feel so much better already. I have loads more energy."

Natalie, who works for a print distribution company in Groby, admitted she still craves chocolate.

But she added: "Now that I have breakfast I've been able to cut out the snacking.

"I'm also having smaller portions, but it doesn't feel as if I am eating less. I don't feel hungry."

Kay, 44, is equally enthusiastic about the "new her".

"I just seemed to be getting heavier and heavier and then we saw the Mercury advert for Fit2Win and decided to give it a go," she said.

"We've cut down on processed meals and are cooking our own. It's so nice to taste real food.

"Within the first three weeks, I feel so much better and can tell the difference. I've lost weight and have lost about 1in all over."

The women used one of the vouchers that appeared in the Mercury last month to join a Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness club for free, get a discount on weekly classes and get a free diet pack.

They go to a weekly weigh-in and then do Zumba get-fit sessions on Monday and Tuesday evenings, followed by a pilates class on a Wednesday, and they often do some exercises at home.

Kay, who works in a GP surgery, said: "I do a lot of sitting during the day and am not all that good with exercise, but this is wonderful.

"It's good doing this with Natalie because it keeps us motivated. Last week, I thought I couldn't be bothered to go to a class but she persuaded me to and I am so glad I did. I had so much more energy when I got home."

Back at home the fridge is now full of healthy snacks such as carrot sticks – although Kay admitted she treated herself to a chocolate biscuit last weekend.

She added: "Even my husband, Alan, is having the meals and enjoying them."

If you cut out a Rosemary Conley voucher last month, there is still time to use it. You have until Wednesday, February 29, to use your voucher to sign up to a Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club for free. To find your nearest class:

www.rosemary conley.com