Gran competes as bodybuilder after losing weight

Fran Smith lost more than half her body weight and now competes in bodybuilding competitions

A 58-year-old grandmother who has lost more than half her body weight said she felt like a "winner" when she now competes as a bodybuilder.

Fran Smith from Marlesford, near Framlingham, Suffolk, started a weight loss journey 12 years ago when she weighed 20 stone (127kg).

During her journey, she developed a love for the gym and weightlifting and later began entering bodybuilding competitions, some in which she has scored highly.

Ms Smith now weighs nine stone (57kg) and said her bodybuilding passion had meant her grandchildren thought of her as "pretty cool".

"The children had just about left home, there was six of them, and I suddenly realised there was still me," Ms Smith said of the start of her journey.

"I had tried every diet in the book and it hadn't worked."

Ms Smith said the gym and bodybuilding had changed her life

Ms Smith began to lose weight slowly by changing her diet and exercising, and gained confidence to start working out in a gym.

"I'd lost about four stone (25kg) and I started in the gym, and I haven't looked back," she added.

She has competed in several bodybuilding competitions as a natural competitor who does not take body enhancing drugs.

Ms Smith said she always felt like a winner during competitions after her weight loss

"I don't have to necessarily win because I've already won on that stage from where I started," she said.

"I can't explain to people how that feels.

"From being overweight, been through the menopause and having so many children, the female body is incredible and very forgiving.

"This is why I chose to go down the natural route because I wanted to see what my body is capable of.

"I haven't got the perfect bodybuilding body, but the expression you are what you eat is so true, especially for a bodybuilder.

"I have seen my body change dramatically and I kind of like what I see."

Ms Smith wanted to encourage other older women to take up exercising to "lift their endorphins and feel good about themselves".