FOUR lucky readers are looking forward to waving excess weight goodbye and shimmying their way to a fit and fantastic summer, thanks to the Oxford Mail.

Over the next three months, we are teaming up with Virgin Active to help these four women get fit and healthy and back into their dream outfits.

Then, once the course has been completed, we will crown one of the ladies the Oxford Mail Weight Buster 2012.

The lucky winner will get a year’s free membership at Virgin Active, in Woodstock Road, Oxford, and a host of other goodies.

Virgin Active fitness manager Adam Robinson said: “We will have these ladies feeling fitter and fabulous in no time.

“With a healthy diet and balanced exercise programme, they should be well on their way to getting in shape by the end of the three months.

“I am looking forward to offering one of the lucky Oxford Mail winners a year’s membership at our club.”

The four winners are:

Sarah Leach

Mother of two, 45, from Kidlington

Height: 5ft 5inches

Weight: 13.8stone

Body Mass Index (BMI): 31.2 - obese

Sarah’s story I feel I desperately need to do something. My stepson is getting married in May so I’d love to be in shape for that. I want to make sure I’m around for my own children’s weddings. I’m also a social smoker and would like to stop that.

I started putting on weight when I became a mother, everything seems to get rounder! You find yourself eating your own dinner and nibbling at their food too. I’m a size 16 to 18 at the moment and would like to get down to a 14. I’d love to be able to wear a lovely shift dress to the wedding without having to worry about my fat knees poking out of the bottom.

Gillian Wainwright

Mother of one, 57, of Cowley

Height: 5ft 11inches

Weight: 17.4 stone.

BMI: 35.5 - obese

Gillian’s story I realised I wanted to lose weight when I got stuck in a sauna when I went on holiday. I found I couldn’t use the steps out of the sauna because of the weight pressure on my knees.

It was terrible. I had to be pulled out by a complete stranger.

I used to be a size 14, but I began to put on weight after I started taking medication for a long-term health condition. My appetite just soared. I always have a good breakfast but then I pick on things like peanut butter, which is obviously very bad for you.

I’d like to be able to lose weight around my stomach and get into a pair of slim-fitting trousers. I’m a size 22 at the moment. As I am quite tall, it would be nice to get into a size 18, which is the size that the tall ranges tend to stop at.

Christie Bowers Aged 27, of Headington

Height: 5ft 9inches

Weight: 20.1 stone

BMI: 39.6 - obese

Christie’s story I’ve always been big and dieted since my teens. I’ve tried Weight Watchers, Slimming World, Slim Fast, you name it. But I woke up one day last summer and suddenly thought, ‘I hate the way I look’. I became determined to do something about it. I’ve got a nephew due and I’m really close to my best friend’s children. I’d love to be fit enough to play with them. I’m a size 22 and I’d love to be a size 12 to 14 and not have to shop in the plus size shops. I’ve been with my partner eight years, and in the whole time he has seen me in a dress once. I’d love to able to wear one again without putting trousers or leggings on underneath.

Melanie Armstrong

Mother of one, 42, from Wolvercote

Height: 5ft 7inches

Weight: 10.7 stone

BMI: 21.8 – normal

Melanie’s story I’ve always considered myself quite fit and healthy, but over the ChrIstmas period it struck me how unfit I had become. I work, and I have recently started a law course as well. I used to do a lot of walking, gardening, cycling and horse riding. Becoming a mother does cut down the time and money you can spend on these activities. I’ve begun to struggle to keep up with my son. It was a shock to realise how unfit and breathless I had suddenly become from my sedentary lifestyle. I would like to lose my ‘spare tyre’ and to be able to play football with my son Eddie. At the moment I’m a size 14 and I’d love to be a size 10. I’ve got a lovely brown wraparound dress which I’d like to be able to fit into again without popping out!