Jyoti Soren isn’t the first slimmer to inspire others through her own success.

What sets the 42-year-old mum of three apart from most women who become consultants for slimming groups is that she is understood to be the first Asian woman in West Yorkshire to become a WeightWatchers leader.

Jyoti, who lives in Heaton, began battling her weight following the birth of her three children. “After my third child I was having problems losing weight, for some reason,” says Jyoti.

She reached 11st, and the turning point for her was not being able to find what she wanted to wear while shopping for holiday clothes last year.

Jyoti turned to WeightWatchers 17 years ago. She joined a class at work to get in shape for her wedding, and was so impressed with the results from her previous experience of losing weight through the organisation she decided to rejoin.

Within a year Jyoti lost 2st, dropping from a size 18 to a size 8/10 through the WeightWatchers Discover plan, based on a points system. Every food has a points value which is calculated based on the food’s calories and saturated fat. Slimmers meet a daily points allowance and learn to select the best food options to eat well and stay satisfied while losing weight.

Jyoti’s steady and sensible weight loss was achieved through learning how to cook healthily – something she now hopes to pass on to others after becoming a WeightWatchers leader.

“When I got near my goal, my leader asked if I would like to be a leader, so I went through the process,” recalls Jyoti.

“I’ve always found the classes to be inspirational, and thought it would be good if I could be a leader for them.”

Jyoti launched her first class in December. It is also the first to be held in Manningham, an area with a high Asian population.

Jyoti is aware of the calorific contents of the cuisine from her own culture. Dishes are often high in fat, and the high levels of diabetes and heart problems within the Asian community can be attributed to this.

“Coming from an Asian background, I am really keen to show other Asian women how you can still cook traditional food but do it in a much healthier way,” says Jyoti.

“The problem is that the Asian diet involves quite a lot of frying, but if you plan your meals and re-educate yourself about the way you cook, you can still eat the same foods as the rest of your family.

“I taught myself to cook Asian dishes in a healthier manner. By dry-frying alone and using spray oil rather than heaps of ordinary oil you can make immediate healthier changes. A lot of Asian snack foods are fried, but by using less ghee or an alternative, I still eat them, but if I plan them into my diet and limit the amount I have. It really is very simple.”

Jyoti also talks about the impact losing weight has had on her health. “Obviously there are health benefits, but it does so much for your confidence and wellbeing and everything looks a lot brighter. You can deal with situations and challenges you come across in your life. It’s having that control back, that is the main benefit,” she says.

Jyoti says losing weight has given her back her energy too which she needs to look after her family. She also helps her husband in his business running nine martial arts clubs in Bradford.

But, according to Jyoti, the meetings aren’t solely about weight loss – they give mums the opportunity to have some rare ‘me time’ and to socialise and make friends with others who are going through the same experience. They can also inspire and support them.

Jyoti has organised meetings to try and accommodate as many people as possible. Conscious that evening meetings aren’t always convenient for busy mums, Jyoti has scheduled a 10am session to enable mums to attend after taking children to school.

Losing weight and getting in shape are among the most popular New Year resolutions, so Jyoti is looking forward to passing on her knowledge and expertise to help others, like her, achieve their slimming goal.

In particular she hopes to encourage more Asian women into her classes to learn healthier cooking methods. “I thought it would be great to share and pass on the message,” she says.

Jyoti says she believes people are often put off from joining slimming organisations through fear of not being able to eat the foods they are used to. “Because I have grown up in England I’ve had a mixed cuisine, Asian and English food, and a lot of our recipes we adapt. I did it because I thought there are other women who wanted to lose weight.

“The hardest bit of weight loss is actually going to a meeting and taking that first step to go through the door because that is when you admit to yourself you have a weight problem.”

Jyoti suggests that new members attend the class with a friend or family member.

“It’s something you do for yourself because most of the time lots of mums are looking after children at home. They forget to look after themselves. Losing weight and getting yourself healthy, putting some ‘me time’ back. That is one thing I got from it,” says Jyoti.

“It’s a journey. It’s making your story today. Every journey begins with one step and you can make some friends.”

Debbie Rolls, area manager for WeightWatchers West Yorkshire, says she hopes Jyoti will inspire other Asian women to attend and eventually lead classes.

“It is fabulous that we have her on board,” says Debbie. “She understands the challenges and can adapt normal recipes to healthier ones. She has gone through it herself and can give really good information.”

Jyoti’s classes take place on Mondays at 10am at the Carlisle Business Centre, Carlisle Road, Bradford (for ladies only) and on Wednesdays at 6.30pm at the Woodroyd Centre, West Bowling. For more information call 08457 123000 or visit the website WeightWatchers.co.uk