Mother loses an incredible 9 and a half stone after cutting out alcohol

A mother from Texas has started inspiring others after losing an incredible 9 and a half stone and ditching alcohol from her diet for good.

Misty Mitchell, 36, once weighed 21st 2lb, thanks to a combination of a poor diet and drinking habits that saw her consuming 1000 calories worth of vodka in one night - but now she's shed almost half of her body weight, and has now started an online weight loss company to help others to follow in her footsteps.

'I was eating all day, then drinking by night, then because I was hungover I was eating badly - it was a terrible cycle and amounted to me consuming a lot of calories,' she told The Daily Mail.

'On my worst days I probably drank around half a litre of vodka, which equates to an additional 1,000 empty calories on top of my poor diet.'

'When I was hungover I would feel this massive hunger that couldn't be sated and some days I would eat all day without getting full.'

'I wasn't making healthy food choices. I would eat tacos, burgers, fried food, ice cream, just anything all day long.'

'I ate constantly until my stomach hurt, then when it would ease up I would start eating again.'

Last year, after recovering from surgery for a herniated spinal disk, she reached a turning point and realised the impact her weight was having on her health, making the decision to say goodbye to alcohol and overhaul her lifestyle for good.

Misty, who is now a healthy 11st and 25 per cent body fat, also reduced the amount of carbohydrates she was eating, as well as taking up yoga and lifting weights five times a week.

She adds that not only has the weight loss helped her to feel better in herself, it's made her look years younger too.

'Most people tell me I look like I've lost a lot years off my age or that I look like I'm in my 20s,' she says. 'My family are floored, when I share pictures online they can't believe it's me.'

'I thought I was happy back then, but I was just surviving, I had no idea how happy I could be a how wonderful life could get.'

'I'm very proud I managed to turn my life around and I hope that I can inspire other people out there so that they know it is possible.'