Oldest slimmer in town...Betty, 92, sheds 7st as she gets the gym bug

The slimline 92-year-old now after her exercise regime

PROOF you are never too old to slim – meet Betty Jones, 92, who has lost seven stone after becoming an exercise fanatic.

 

Betty tipped the scales at 17st and was warned she needed to lose weight so she could have lifesaving open heart surgery.

But with a change of diet and a strict five-times-a-week gym routine, the great-grandmother has slimmed to a trim 10st 3lb.

Now she has well and truly fallen to the fitness bug, buying an exercise bike and having swimming lessons.

It does not stop there.

Inspirational Betty has also become the oldest student at Barnsley College in South Yorkshire, studying tailoring, cake decorating and healthy eating.

Her immediate goals are to keep her weight at its present level and to swim a length of the pool as soon as she can.

She said: “I’ve always had what I call heavy bones, but I feel great now. I feel 100 per cent better, fitter and younger since losing weight and I think you are never too old for anything.”

Betty, of Carlton, Barnsley, started to pile on the pounds when she ran a fish and chip shop and helped herself to the food every day.

She said: “I got fat and then it never went away.

 

Betty when she weighed in at 17st

“Later I was looking after my little grandson, Jake, and couldn’t even walk him to school – that’s when I knew I needed to take myself in hand and lose weight.

I have made some lovely friends of all ages at these places and I like being out and about and keeping busy

92-year-old Betty

“So now I’ve learned about healthy eating.

“I still decorate the gorgeous cakes but then give them away to charity instead of eating them.”

Betty, whose husband Howard died two years ago aged 90, said she has no problem being the oldest member at her local Slimming World, the gym or college.

The mother-of-three, who had successful surgery after losing the weight, said: “I have made some lovely friends of all ages at these places and I like being out and about and keeping busy.”

She admits that as well as exercise she enjoys a chat with friends in the whirlpool bath at the gym after her regular workouts.

Betty said: “I had a nice figure when I got married but children and life all combined and I just got bigger and bigger.

“A lot of people seem to use age as a reason to give up but I hope I can show them that you are never too old and you can do anything at any age.

“I feel better now than I did 12 years ago because of losing weight and regular exercise.”