Most women would jump at the chance to put on some lipstick, sling on a pair of heels and head out for a romantic meal with their other half. But for super-sized mum Zeena Macdonald, 37, it was her worst nightmare. At 24 stone and a size 24, the home helper and mum-of-four was so ashamed of her appearance that she shunned date nights in favour of baggy sweatpants and a takeaway in front of the TV. When her husband tired of her excuses and ended their marriage in April 2011, Zeena decided to change her life for good and lost an incredible 13st. Now the former couch potato is a slinky size 10 and has never felt better.
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
BEHIND the doors of this building, with its stacks of mattresses and discarded remains of wheelchairs, lies another victim of austerity cuts .
A toddler has shrugged off death an incredible 10 times thanks to his parents who revive him with the kiss of life every two weeks .
BURSTING colours of reds, pinks and purples give the illusion of a collection of stunning flowers .
A DETERMINED great blue heron holds on tightly to its prey as the furry gopher attempts to wriggle free .
With one hand rested on his belly and the other propping his head up, this lazy lizard takes an afternoon break .
Balanced on one leg, a frog assumes the crane kick martial arts stance made famous in the movie The Karate Kid .
A pair of chicks bravely decided to befriend a python, despite being the snake's favourite choice of food .
RACING through the mountain range on horseback, the Kazakh people practice their ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles .
Families in an Indian slum put their lives on the line by living on top of an ACTIVE railway track .
With the vivid red smoke billowing into the sky amid the misty sand dunes, these are the blissful views provided at the break of dawn at a volcano .
UNDERWATER and above-water seaside shots show the best of British beach-life .