"Over the years, I tried to dress nicely with clothes that suited my fuller figure. The thing I could never achieve was acceptance of my weight and how I looked"- Carolyn

Facing the risk of developing Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes because she was overweight, 54-year-old Carolyn Pohlner lost 20kg with The Natural Way program. And now she's keeping it off. As well as looking fantastic, Carolyn has reduced her risk of developing a potentially life-threatening illness. Plus, as Slimmer of the Year, she's become an inspiration for others. "I could never accept my weight and how I looked," Carolyn says. "Never in a million years did I think I'd be here. It's the most amazing feeling."

For Carolyn, a real plus about The Natural Way program was being able to choose her own menus as well as buying and cooking her own food. "Making my own choices made me more responsible for what I ate," she says. Carolyn, who works for a legal firm in Toowoomba, Queensland, says her colleagues and her sister Bev were a great source of support and encouragement. "Learning about food and the way her body functions was also really valuable," Carolyn says. "I have a stack of new recipes, lots of ideas and so much knowledge that will stand me in good stead for the future.

One of the hardest things Carolyn has found after reaching her goal weight is learning how to accept compliments. "I still get embarrassed when people compliment me because I don't really know how to react" she says. It's a feeling that Carolyn will have to get used to because she will feature in national advertising for The Natural Way for the next 12 months. "I'm blown away by this experience," Carolyn says with a smile...

Carolyn Pohlner lost 19kg in 33 weeks.