An Angus super slimmer is a shadow of the man he used to be.
In just a year, Letham’s Jonathan Johnstone is just a few pounds away from shedding a staggering 12 stone and is now in the running for a major national prize.
Jonathan’s success has been achieved through the Forfar Slimming World group and with an expenses paid holiday also on offer to the organisation’s man of the year, the 28-year-old might be able to pull on his swimming shorts after years of being frightened to venture poolside.
The Dundee Department for Work and Pensions officer admitted the trigger for his slimdown had been the idea of a family holiday with partner Kirsty Simpson and children Jack, 12, Alex, 7, and five-year-old Isla.
“Kirsty had been going on about a trip to Centre Parcs and eventually I told her that I wasn’t really comfortable with a holiday like that where the swimming pool is such a big part of it,” he said.
“A friend of Kirsty’s came here to Slimming World and I just started and have stuck to it,” he said.
His dedication to the group’s diet programme has led to a weekly progress book of minus figures from June 6 last year and having shrunk from 29st 2lb to now tip the scales at 17st 8lb, Jonathan was an easy choice as the Forfar group’s man of the year.
“I just enjoyed food too much but now it really is a case of enjoying it in a different way,” he said.
“It’s been great for all of us, Kirsty is always looking out for things I like and it’s great for the kids because it’s so much healthier,” said Jonathan.
Jonathan, who is 6ft 8in, admits the slimming success that has changed his world has one small downside.
“The only thing I don’t like about it is having to continually change my wardrobe,” he said.
His remarkable progress has been accompanied by a shrinking waistline which has gone down from 48in to 36in.
Slimming World consultant Carmen Glasby said: “We’re really proud of Jonathan, he has stuck to it and helped show others in the group just what can be achieved.”