Mother sheds six stone in swims

Tracey Davies is "probably the most consistent person" Richard Wilder has trained

A Cardiff woman is celebrating after dieting and swimming her way to losing an impressive six-and-a-half stone.

Tracey Davies, a mother-of-three, from St Fagans in the city, shed the weight in just 15 months.

She puts her success down to a regime shaped by a fitness trainer at Cardiff International Pool.

Staff at the pool say her six hours of week of training is an "inspiration" and they have awarded her the title of 'member of the year'

Tracey said: "A year last autumn I was feeling very unfit and wasn't happy with the way I looked.

"I felt I was missing out on a lot with the kids. I also had a bit of a health scare so I started dieting and swimming.

'Feel brilliant'

"That's when I first used Cardiff International Pool. And I started from there."

Fitness trainer Richard Wilder started putting Tracey through her paces once a week and gradually her exercise regime was increased.

"It was very hard work at the start but the more I trained the easier it was. I started to feel a lot fitter and a lot more confident and happier with myself," she said.

Mrs Davies is now training up to four times and six hours a week. "It's still work in progress but I feel brilliant," she said.

She also praised the facilities at the pool and the dedication of the staff.

"There's plenty of equipment and all the fitness instructors are very friendly and you couldn't ask for any more encouragement.

Before Tracey felt she was missing out a lot with her kids

"You can't fault it. My husband's thrilled to bits and the kids are thrilled too - I've even started going out jogging with my youngest son."

Mrs Davies also wins complimentary membership at the pool for a year.

Fitness manager Lisa O'Neill said: "Tracey really deserves this. We've seen her progress and she's showed great motivation and determination. We are all very proud of her."

Fitness trainer Richard Wilder added: "She joined when we opened and has probably been the most consistent person I've trained.

"She's been in every week and the improvements have gone from struggling to run for 30 seconds to now managing 5km.

"Through exercise and diet it shows it does work.

"Because Tracey's stuck to it that's why it's worked," he said.