SHE watched her dad suffer from heart disease and was determined it would not affect her.

But at 16st 5lb, Debbie Plumpton feared that was the likely outcome.

So she embarked on a diet and fitness regime that yesterday saw her crowned Super Fit Slimmer of the Year.

Debbie, 43, from Liversedge, won the title at the Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Magazine annual awards after shedding 7st in just over a year.

Ms Plumpton, who used to wear size 24 clothes, embraced exercise to become a size 8/10.

The mother, who weighs 9st 5lb, now makes time to do 35-40 minutes of exercise each morning.

Debbie admits she used to be a complete stranger to exercise.

She had been overweight for over 20 years but when her father became ill with cardiac disease and she watched him deteriorate for two years, it made her realise she did not want to put her two children through the same anguish of seeing a parent suffer.

“I knew cardiac disease was hereditary and wanted to minimise my own risk and become healthier for the sake of my boys,” says Debbie.

When she struggled to get up Pen-y-ghent, one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, on a family walk, she knew she had to change her lifestyle for the sake of her health.

She completed the walk but as she was so out of breath it had taken her five hours, as she had to stop every couple of hundred yards.

However, since losing 7st, Debbie has now completed the walk again and this time it took her just two-and-a-half hours.

After losing her first stone in a month, it took her roughly the same amount of time to lose her second stone. After that, she lost a further stone every two months and by December 2011, she was already down to 11st 5lb.

Sadly, that Christmas, Debbie’s father passed away, but she was relieved that he had seen her lose the majority of her weight.

“He was so proud of me,” adds Debbie.

“I love exercise now and it’s so much a part of my life. I get up at 5.45am each morning and do around 35-40 minutes of exercise which has helped me to tone up. Since exercising my figure has been completely transformed and I love being fit and active!”

She received her award – along with £1,000 cash – from Rosemary Conley, CBE, at a glittering ceremony held at the London Marriott County Hall Hotel yesterday.