Festive feasts and parties impact on our waistlines and this month many people will have made resolutions to shed their extra weight.

The New Year is a boom time for gyms and weight-loss classes, but despite their best intentions, many people may have already lost the momentum.

For others, though, losing weight can be a matter or life or death. Paul Selwood admits he needed a wake-up call to lose weight.

At more than 30st, he knew that his size and being pre-diabetic was a potentially life-threatening combination and, having a young family, Paul wasn’t prepared to run the risk of dying young.

“I’ve got three children. The eldest is seven and the youngest is three,” says Paul.

He admits he’d tried dieting before and failed. He blames being able to buy cheaper food in bulk contributing to his weight gain, along with worry.

“I’ve always been a big eater and I’ve always loved my food,” says Paul. “It was a comforter, too. I don’t drink or smoke, but I’ve always had an appetite.”

The pub company director from Uttley, near Keighley, wasn’t aware of exactly how much he weighed until he joined a Slimming World class in Steeton.

He recalls stepping on the scales after everyone had left on his first meeting. Reality struck when the scales tipped 30st 10lbs. Even at his height, 6ft 4ins, Paul knew it was still a large weight gain and he was aware of the challenge ahead.

Re-educating himself on food management and healthy eating with the help of his nurse and Slimming World consultant, Ros Tonks, Paul was able to shed 3st 5lbs in 16 weeks. “That’s 3lbs a week,” he says proudly.

Paul explains Slimming World’s food optimising system enables slimmers to change the way they eat without sacrificing foods they enjoy.

“You change the way you eat, but it doesn’t stop you eating chocolate or having a takeaway. It helps you manage it,” he says.

Being one of only a few men in the Slimming World classes doesn’t bother him either. “I know there are a number of guys, but it is predominantly girls,” he says. “You don’t feel self-conscious because everybody is in the same boat.

“Ros’s kindness, encouragement and belief in me kept me going,” he adds.

“I am still nowhere out of the danger zone, but I am no longer pre-diabetic, which takes me out of that zone. My cholesterol has dropped and I am in a pair of jeans.

“I feel really, really good. It has made a vast positive improvement to my health, I can now go to the gym three times a week, I walk my dog and I feel so much better. I’m on top of the world.”

Ros’s classes take place at St Aidan’s, Crossflatts, Bingley, on Thursdays at 7pm.

Stephen Carter joined his local Slimming World class on doctor’s orders.

And Stephen’s wife, Michelle, decided to make it a family affair by enrolling, too.

Stephen has cerebral palsy, which affects movement, posture and co-ordination. When he experienced extreme back pain the doctor suggested he lost some weight.

“He wanted to do it, but he didn’t want to go on his own, so we both joined and we haven’t looked back,” says Michelle.

The couple, from Thornton, joined Slimming World last February. Despite Stephen’s lack of ability to exercise through his condition, he was still able to lose weight through the food optimising plan.

Michelle has lost 6st, dropping from a dress size 26 to a 12. Stephen has lost 4st and is now 12st 2lbs.

Michelle says she had tried dieting before and, although conscious she was overweight, she wouldn’t have joined if she hadn’t been accompanying Stephen.

She says losing weight has made a difference to both their lives and the couple intend continuing with their classes. She feels more active and is now doing weekly zumba classes.

“It has made me more confident and a lot more comfortable. You feel like you fit in rather than stand out,” she says.

Stephen says losing weight has changed his life ‘tremendously.’ “I am a lot more mobile than I used to be and I am now back to a 32in waist. I haven’t been that since I was 18!” he laughs.

He says having Michelle’s support has helped in his slimming success. “We are both very competitive – if one week I don’t lose and she loses I am terrible!”

Carole Philpott, the couple’s Slimming World consultant, who runs classes at Clayton on Tuesdays, says: “I am immensely proud of what Stephen and Michelle have achieved, and I’m so pleased that I was able to be a part of their journey.

“Their success is testament to their complete commitment and dedication to their decision to change their lives, which combined with the flexible Slimming World plan, has proved to be a winning formula.”