A local woman has recorded a song with 2008 X Factor winner Alexandra Burke after losing weight with a well-known weight loss program.

Karen Weeks, Kingsbridge, said she “woke up one morning and decided to lose weight” and after trying different ways, including Weight Watchers, she saw a post on Facebook about the shakes program and decided to give it a go.

Fast forward a few months and Karen had already lost 35 pounds, and was approached by a member of the weight loss team, asking if she fancied taking part in a challenge in January.

“The challenge was to record a soundtrack in London with Alexandra Burke” explained Karen. Having never had any singing experience before, she was excited, if a little nervous, and was sent up to London to take part.

“We got to meet Alexandra and Carrie Grant [the vocal coach who appeared on Fame Academy and Pop Idol] and I got to meet five other women from across the world, all with their own stories, and between us we’d, lost 20 stone.

“Alexandra Burke sang the song and we sang the backing track, a cover of Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’.”

Talking about what made her start losing weight, Karen said that she “got up one morning, put on my jeans, and didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin. I didn’t want my husband, who I’ve been with for seven years and been married for five, to see me big, so I made a decision there and then to lose weight.

“I want people to know that it can be done. I was going to physio, I was struggling to walk, but now I feel like I’ve been reincarnated. I’m happy and I’ve got my spark back.”

Karen is planning to hit her goal weight of eleven stone by the summer, giving her just 24 weeks to achieve it.

You can see the video of Karen and the other women in the choir putting together the song on YouTube - there is a link to it on our website: www.kingsbridge-today.co.uk