Paul's a super slimmer

FOR most of his adult life, Paul Clack had been gradually putting on weight - until he decided to take a stand and do something about it.

And now, just over a year after he first braved a slimming class, he has lost more than seven stone, smashed his target weight, trimmed ten inches off his waist and claimed a prestigious award.

For the 33-year-old father-of-three, now a svelte 11 stone after tipping the scales at 18st 3lbs only last March, has just been named 'Man of the Year' at his Ipswich slimming group.

He will now go on to represent his group - Slimming World's St John's Ipswich class - at the national semi-finals later this year with a chance to claim a top prize of either £2,000 or a dream holiday to Las Vegas.

Mr Clack's story began in March last year when, frustrated at the limitations his weight was placing on life, he took the plunge and plucked up the courage to first attend the group.

He said: “Everything was a hassle really.

“I just couldn't do some mundane tasks and I was getting out of breath and struggling to play with the children. Everything was an effort.

“We went to Prague for our anniversary in 2006 and it was seeing the pictures when we got back that was the straw which broke the camel's back.”

Mr Clack, an IT solutions manager in Ipswich, joined the group and along with wife Melanie - who herself has lost just under four stone despite not attending classes - has turned his life around.

Mr Clack said he was proud to have won the award, and also had a message for others who were unhappy with their weight.

He said: “The first thing to say to other people is that you are not alone. If you can get over the stigma of going to the groups they are very supportive and will really help you. Do not just sit there and do nothing about it.”