Thinspirational: Super slimmer Peter Mastrantuono

In 10 months the father-of-three from Eccleshill has lost a staggering 10 stone - despite the temptation of his sweet career.

His role, as the ice cream director for Eden Farm Hulleys, the largest independent wholesaler of ice cream and frozen food in the UK, involves supplying, marketing and distributing ice cream and frozen food.

"This is not an ideal situation to be in when you are attempting to lose weight and become healthier as I am surrounded by ice cream 24/7," explains Peter.

He explains how the impetus for him to lose the pounds he had piled on due to his sweet tooth, and doing less sport as he got older, came in July last year.

Peter is a guitarist in a band and a friend had told him he had seen some clips of the band on YouTube.

"When I saw the clips I was horrified at the way I looked. My legs were swollen, I could hardly move about, I was hunched over and I just didn't look very well at all."

Peter's reality check came when he stepped on the scales. "I hadn't weighed myself in years and couldn't believe my eyes when I got on the scales. I had ballooned to 23 stones in weight.

His mum, mother-in-law and sister-in-law had all had success with Slimming World and his daughter, Skyla, had been asking him to go with her.

"But I was embarrassed because of the way I looked and because I thought there would be no men at these classes," says Peter.

He decided to go it alone reading his mum's books and leaflets from her classes, but admits he failed to stick to the plan.

"I just ate fruit and veg for the first week. I did pretty well that first week too as I lost a total of 17 pounds, but I knew that if I wanted to be serious about losing weight I would need the help and support of like-minded people that knew what it felt like to have a weight issue.

"I knew that if I didn't have a proper plan and make some drastic lifestyle changes that I would put all the weight and more back on and then be back in an even worse situation."

Peter eventually plucked up the courage to join his local Slimming World class at Bolton Methodist Church, Bolton Junction, Bradford.

Accompanied by his mum and daughter, Peter discovered he wasn't the only male member when he arrived. "There are about half a dozen guys that go to this class so it didn't feel too bad at all," Peter recalls.

Determined to stick to the plan, it didn't take long for him to taste slimming success.

"I promised myself that I would stick to the plan and after the first week as a member I lost 20 pounds.

"The second week I lost a further nine and a half pounds. I was on a real high. It was the only diet I had ever been on where I didn't go to bed hungry every night."

Peter says he managed to quell his sweet cravings with fruit and set goals which he tried to beat every week.

"I had booked a holiday for my wife, youngest son and myself for mid-August and I wanted to get to 18 stone before I went. This would mean that I had lost five stone in five weeks before on holiday - which I did.

"Going on holiday was going to be really difficult for me as it was an all inclusive holiday, but I still managed to lose three and half pounds over the two weeks I was away by food optimising the best I could," explains Peter.

Looking back at the photos taken during the holiday, Peter saw a different person.

"I could kick a ball around with my youngest son without feeling out of breath, I could go for walks with my wife and even started going on the trampolines at the local free jumping parks with Sonny (youngest son) and his mates at the weekend.

Peter says he was on a mission - he even started walking to work - a four and a half mile round trip - when he was in the office.

"I said to myself that I was aiming to lose 100lbs in as many days which I did on October 12."

By this stage Peter had lost seven stones and two pounds in just over three months and was nominated, and won, the Mr Sleek award in class.

Since then Peter's weight has levelled out to a healthy one to two pounds a week average.

"When I started, I set my target weight at 15 stone thinking there was no way I could get to this," says Peter.

By the end of April he had reached his target weight of 13 stone and currently weighs 12 stone and 13lbs.

"My life has totally changed for the better, I have met some truly inspirational people at Slimming world, better still I have made some fantastic friends too.

"My wife is extremely supportive and helps with all the cooking and prep work of our meals, and Monday evenings have turned into a real family affair. My eldest son Corey has joined now along with my niece's partner (Kez) and we all try and help each other and swap recipes and stories of how the week has gone."

Peter intends to stick to food optimising for the rest of his life. "I want to see my children and grandchildren grow and prosper and I wouldn't have been able to if I were still heading down the path I was going before I joined slimming world."

Peter adds: "Thank you Slimming World you had made this all possible and changed my life."

Amanda Firth, Slimming World consultant who runs the class at Bolton Methodist church, Bolton Junction, Bradford, says Peter is a 'fantastic' member: "He really supports other members, gives ideas and encouragement."

Amanda explains she has 10 other men in her 7.30pm group. "He's really encouraging them. He's a fabulous role model for men that are frightened to come to groups. He's really encouraging them."

Adds Peter: "One of the biggest things is sitting in that class week in and week out and being responsible for your own weight loss. There is only you who puts that food in your mouth."

Peter credits his family, his wife Rosie, for her support and also the support of his Slimming World consultant, Amanda and fellow members.

Now he hopes to encourage others to achieve slimming success, especially men who may be frightened to join up. "It's taking that plunge and courage to join and you feel so much better. It is such a life changing thing. If I hadn't done it I don't know where I would be now," adds Peter.