A MUM who beat her demons to shed more than four stone after battling breast cancer and losing her son to sepsis has now become a weight loss coach.

Julia Elliot, of Penarth, was a carer to her disabled son James who had various disabilities including dual sensory loss, learning disabilities and autism but said she found herself “hitting rock bottom” when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of 2014.

After having a double mastectomy and going through chemotherapy, she lost her James, 19, to sepsis in February 2015.

The mum-of-two said that in that short period of around five months, her life had “become unrecognisable” and she was in “utter turmoil.”

Mrs Elliot was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and said she became a recluse, spending most of her time eating food as her comfort.

She said: “I was on a medication for PTSD that gave me a huge appetite and I turned to the food cupboard as my comfort. I would eat all day long.”

The now 51-year-old was taken on her dream holiday of inter railing around Europe by her husband Steve and said the holiday photos left her realising she needed to do something.

Mrs Elliot joined a Slimming World group not long after her 50th birthday in Dinas Powys and has gone from her starting weight of 14 stone 7 1/2 lbs to her target weight of 9 stone 13lbs.

Through the weight loss, the 51-year-old said she began to change, feel more confident and interact with her husband and other son Tom.

She was also able to get breast augmentation due to her weight loss and said she has reduced the risk of her cancer returning by losing weight,

She is now a Slimming World consultant and will be re-launching her first group next month on Wednesday, September 5 at All Saints Church Hall in Victoria Square, Penarth.