An Ipswich woman has dropped eight-and-a-half stone, halving her body weight, after embarking on an inspirational weight loss journey.

Aileen Wagner, 45, joined her local gym TruGym on Ranelagh Road in June 2023 and has never looked back.

Prior to joining, Mrs Wagner was a size 20 and decided that she had to do something about her weight. 

Aileen's Strava app map from the Dunwich half marathon.Mrs Wagner's Strava app map from the Dunwich half marathon. (Image: Aileen Wagner)

She said: "I’ve met some truly amazing and inspirational like-minded people who have been such a huge support and pushed my beyond my comfort zone.

"I’m healthier, happier, more confident. Gyms are such an easily accessible resource. They are not scary places.

"The people in them are all on a journey and the gym community is life changing. Amazing people who hold each other up and celebrate fellow gym goers’ achievements."

Last Saturday Mrs Wagner ran her first half marathon in Dunwich encouraged by her friends at the gym organised by Endurance Life - despite the fact that she did not do any training. 

Mrs Wagner at home in 2021. Mrs Wagner at home in 2021. (Image: Aileen Wagner)

Mrs Wagner at a social event in 2021.Mrs Wagner at a social event in 2021. (Image: Aileen Wagner)

Mrs Wagner taking part in a 16km charity mud run for East Anglian Air Ambulance earlier this month.Mrs Wagner taking part in a 16km charity mud run for East Anglian Air Ambulance earlier this month. (Image: Aileen Wagner) Before joining TruGym she said she had negative preconceptions about gyms but is now full of praise for the supportive environment that she has encountered, explaining that she has "never seen any bullying" at the gym. 

Mrs Wagner said she sees her weight loss as a "new lifestyle" and that "athletic" figures that some of her friends at the gym have achieved has inspired her to lose even more weight and further improve her figure.