SLIMMING really can be a man's world.

Unlike women who find it easy to share their thoughts and feelings with their friends, men tend to steer away from any discussions about their well-being and health.

But, it seems, when it comes to losing weight many are now manning up and joining what has always been a predominantly women's world.

Paul Holmes had tried dieting in the past but soon sank back into his old ways. Health issues were the trigger he needed to finally take stock of the situation and do something about it.

"I started getting an irregular heart beat and it threw me a bit, it was a bit of a wake up call."

Paul says his wife, Helen, also noticed that he would often stop breathing in his sleep - a condition known as sleep apnoea.

It is estimated around four per cent of middle-aged men and two per cent of middle-aged women are affected by sleep apnoea, a relatively common condition which mainly develops in people aged 30 to 60, although it can affect people of all ages, including children.

"With the irregular heart beat they put me on a monitor and I stopped breathing 11 times an hour on average so I thought combined with the doctor saying I was over weight I thought, ok take the hint, I've got a dodgy heart rate, my cholesterol is up and I am paying into a pension fund, I want to get my money's worth and live longer now.

"That was the turning point. I had to do something," recalls Paul.

More importantly, he wanted to be around for his 18-year-old twin daughters so he decided, having lost weight through Slimming World before, he would join up.

Supported by his wife and fellow Slimming World member, Helen, Paul signed up for the class at Idle Baptist Church in his home village of Idle.

When he joined in January last year he weighed 17 and a half stone and was wearing trousers with a 40 inch waist.

Paul admittedly enjoys his food but he also believes he put his weight on following operations on his knee which led to him being less active. "I wasn't running or doing anything energetic and I piled a lot of weight on.

While some men would be daunted by the prospect of joining a group with mainly female members, Paul was more bothered about what he would no longer be able to eat. "I was a bit worried at the thought of giving up my favourite foods and having to eat salads all the time," he recalls.

But Paul soon realised rather than a diet, his slimming success would be dictated by a lifestyle change allowing him to still eat his favourite foods but to eat healthier in combination with exercise. He now swims twice a week, completing 40 lengths in both sessions, and also goes to the gym.

"It seemed to be a more sensible approach to change what you do," he says.

"The salads I had been worried about didn't seem to be there and I was really surprised by what things you could eat. The number of choices and the recipes that were really tasty whilst being healthy were great."

Being a project manager for his profession, Paul found Slimming World also brought him the structure he needed to achieve his slimming success.

By October he had trimmed down to 14 stone and can now wear trousers with a 34/36 inch waist, but he intends to continue to lose some more pounds and also to help support his wife, who has also enjoyed some slimming success since they joined.

And, testimony to their achievements, the couple recently received the branch's 'Couple of the Year' award.

"It was a nice surprise - we are very proud," says Paul.

They also appreciate the support they receive within the friendly group from fellow members and their consultant, Nicola Barker.

"I am incredibly proud of Paul. He is proof that men can benefit from getting support to eat more healthily and become more active just as much as women. He’s a real inspiration. Lots of local men have joined the group after hearing about Paul's success," says Nicola.

For Paul, losing weight has been life changing and he hopes other men will follow his lead. He says while men are in the minority in his group - he is one of two men within a group of 40 or more women - they are all working towards the same goal and support each other.

"They are really welcoming," says Paul.

"Generally it is a right good laugh, they really enjoy themselves.

"The support I have had from the group and my consultant has been great and helped me every step of the way. I still go to the group as the recipes and ideas they share and the way everyone supports each other is great. I am so glad I started to go and would recommend others who may be like I was just over a year ago to just try. You will not regret it.

"I feel so much more alive. My blood pressure is down, heart rate normal and I am much fitter."

Slimming World supports more than 33,000 men to lose weight and lead healthier lives. According to statistics, over a period of 12 weeks, men attend Slimming World more frequently and lose more weight than women. In 12 weeks men lost an average of 5.7 per cent of their body weight at Slimming World compared to women who lost 4.3 per cent of their weight over the same period. (Published in the Journal BMC Public Health in September 2015).

On average there are four men per Slimming World group. Around 98 per cent of groups have at least one man.

* Idle Slimming World meets on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at Idle Baptist Church, Bradford Road, Idle. Call 07939 240710.