Suzy Preston took it off -- took it all off. All 95 pounds. More than 10 million television viewers can vouch for this.

A recent winner on NBC’s hit program The Biggest Loser, the 29-year-old Des Moines resident was not camera shy. At 227 pounds, she was ready for a change.

What was about to happen, though, would not only drastically alter her appearance but change her life forever.

For weeks, Preston lived with others at an isolated spa-like setting on a luxurious ranch in Southern California, where contestants were divided into two groups - men vs. women.

She lived on 1,200 calories a day of healthy food, and exercised rigorously four to six hours a day.

Preston gave it her all, even overcoming fear on one occasion when she trekked up the hill to the ranch and had an exercise-induced asthma attack.

This was something she had never experienced. Still, it did not deter her.

Each week, every contestant faced the scales -- and the camera -- for the big weigh-in. And each week, the team who lost the least had to eliminate a contestant from their group.

Preston lost 66 pounds during filming of the program last March to June.

Why did losing weight in front of millions of viewers appeal to Preston?

While recently taking an early afternoon break and munching on pineapple, she was more than eager to talk.

“This opportunity came to me. I didn’t go seek it out,' she said. “It was more of a chance to focus on nothing but myself. In my real world, I didn’t do that.'

After the initial taping, the three remaining contestants returned home to lose the rest of the weight on their own. They returned five months later for a final weigh-in on live TV.

Preston had dropped an additional 29 pounds for an astounding 95-pound weight loss over the nine month period.

Her accomplishment enabled Preston to win third place in the Biggest Loser competition.

“I was one pound away from second place,' she added cheerfully.

The final three seemed to be more of a support to one another than contestants in competition. Preston refers to their trio as friends.

Not only that, she walked away with a new slender frame -- and $25,000. This was a surprise since they thought only the first-place winner would receive a monetary award.

Preston, who is single, is a hair stylist who grew up in Burien and attended Christian Faith School.

She has always been active -- and chubby.

Now she includes healthy eating as part of her daily life -- mostly fish, vegetables, ground turkey breast, Egg Beaters, salad, spaghetti squash, and fruits.

She learned that carbohydrates are a “trigger food' so she eliminates them.

If Preston wants to “pig out,' she enjoys an occasional McDonald’s ice cream cone; as long as a person knows his or her caloric intake and value of what is being eaten, an adjustment of calorie consumption can help any one stay within limits.

She bubbles with enthusiasm over her new clothes and being able to show off her trim figure.

“This is a new thing to me,' she declared. “I haven’t ever been this weight. I think, ‘This is you now.’'

At 132 pounds, it is apparent that Preston plans to remain healthy and energetic for the rest of her life.

She is quick to emphasize that she will keep the weight off, adding, “I want to be the 80 year old at water aerobics!'

With this new look -- also the result of strenuous exercise -- Preston is aware that her change in weight and appearance inspires and impacts others.

She said the first thing people do when they see her these days is look her up and down. Being contacted by People Magazine, Access Hollywood, MSNBC and a host of other media now is part of a typical day.

Preston is a popular “search' on the Internet. There are pictures, segments from The Biggest Loser, lots of fans and message boards with talk of the “sweet gal who wore her heart on her sleeve.'

Preston, who values family, is sociable, high-energy, candid and super busy.

“My life is a whirlwind. I feel like I am living two lives right now. Suzy, who has the bills, clients and exercises, and then there is the girl people saw on TV who gets to talk to reporters.'

But Preston walked away with more than a toned body and fame. She also captured the affections of grand-prize winner Matt Hoover, who won $250,000.

“When it started, we saw each other at our worst. There was no first date, let’s get all dolled up, period. We were gross and sweaty.'

Preston and Hoover did not exactly hit it off, so they did not discover an attraction until later in the competition.

When Preston met Hoover, a former NCAA wrestling champion from Iowa State, he weighed 339. (The two lost a combined total of more than 250 pounds.)

“We became friends toward the end of the show after I cut his hair,' Preston recalled. “We started liking each other.'

Then came the separation. The program called for five months of no contact between contestants until the finale.

“At the finale, it was an instant re-connection,' she said with a laugh.

Today, Hoover weighs 182, resides in Iowa and keeps busy doing motivational speaking to teens.

There is talk that he may be moving west to be near Preston.

She cautiously explained, “Right now, it’s long distance dating. It is the beginning stages of a relationship.'