The bright side: Slimmer keenly awaits summer

Slimmer of the Year Amy Johnston, a dairy farmer from Otorohanga, holds a size 26 skirt she wore when starting Weight Watchers. She is now a size 12. Picture / Greg Bowker

Amy Johnston has more reason than most to bemoan the foul weather blighting summer.

Once the sun does eventually come out, it will be the first time she has been able to go swimming with her three young children.

For years Mrs Johnston was plagued by weight problems, but after topping the scales at 144.2kg two years ago, she decided it was time to fight the flab.

Last August she was named Weight Watchers' Slimmer of the Year after shedding 66.3kg.

Since the award she has proudly maintained her svelte figure at about 77kg with a combination of exercise and healthy diet - she has even completed her first half-marathon in an impressive 2hr 4m.

The Otorohanga dairy farmer said yesterday that she had kept the weight off for a year now and had "never felt better".

"This summer is the first year I've been able to go swimming with the kids. Just being able to do the things other people take for granted is fantastic."

Mrs Johnston, who is married to Graeme and has children aged 6, 4 and 2, admits it is still a struggle sometimes and believes she will always have to be aware of the eating habits that could take her back to her old self.

But while she is cycling, running and "playfighting with the kids" she is able to enjoy a whole new lifestyle.

"The temptation to comfort-eat when I'm down is always going to be part of my personality and it's a case of being aware of that."

Mrs Johnston dropped from a size 26 to size 12 and her bust went from a 26F to a 14C over a 14-month period.

She knew the weight loss was a success when a friend saw Graeme out with a "slim, attractive woman" and went home thinking he was having an affair.

"I sometimes tend to forget how I used to feel, but I know coping with everyday life is so much easier now," Mrs Johnston said.

"I just feel so much better."