IAN Thompson spent 10 years climbing mountains.

Yet, the greatest challenge he had to conquer was closer to home. “In my youth I was slim and athletic. I was a rock climber for 10 years but the injuries piled up on me,” he explains.

“I started when I saw Chris Bonnington mountaineering up Everest as a kid and as soon as I was old enough I went hill walking. I grew up in the Midlands and was out into the hills in Wales and Scotland.

“I was really really fit but unfortunately a combination of injuries, mainly my back, meant I stopped doing it and got a job sitting behind a desk working in IT.”

Ian’s new sedentary lifestyle soon took its toll and he began to pile on the pounds. “I’d carried on eating like I was still doing the exercise and nothing happened for three or four months then one morning I woke up and my belt was on two notches.”

Ian’s battle to lose weight became the biggest challenge he had faced. He tried calorie-controlled diets. “I’ve had little degrees of success now and then,” he says.

He finally decided to take action - for the sake of his health.

“Two and a half years ago I had a stroke. It wasn’t anything to do with my weight, it was a migraine stroke which was relatively rare and I was recovering pretty well but my weight problem wasn’t eased by it - it accelerated the decline,” explains Ian.

The wake-up call to take action came when Ian discovered his blood sugar was seriously elevated and he was at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

“I tried to change my habits, started a calorie controlled diet (not for the first time). I was hungry, miserable, and unbelievably, still gaining weight.”

Ian knew he had to change his eating habits and, after doing plenty of research, settled on Weight Watchers. He lost his weight through Weight Watchers Flex.

“I found my way to WW. That’s when my life began to change. I lost over three stones in four months!” says Ian, who weighed 16 stones when he joined.

“Flex not only works but it changes lives. Furthermore it’s sustainable. I achieved all of this without having to be hungry and without having to give up on treats. I know the changes Weight Watchers had brought to my life are changes that can last, unlike any fad diet.”

Ian’s weight loss has also had a profound impact on his health: “Even more importantly, my blood sugar returned to normal and I’m no longer at risk of diabetes. I’ve also been able to come off statins and blood pressure medication completely!”

Inspired by his own success, the 52-year-old father-of-two is now passing on his experience and expertise after qualifying as a Weight Watchers coach.

Ironically, one of the meetings he runs is the Gildersome session he joined when he embarked on his own weight loss journey. Others classes are at East Bierley Cricket Club in South View Road, Rawdon and Tadcaster.

“I was so overwhelmed, I wanted other people to have that opportunity and I have become a coach.”

Ian is also hoping being part of what is predominantly a female-dominated industry, he can encourage more men to join.

He says he already has a few men in his classes, including his helper at the East Bierley session, but he is also conscious that men tend to be more reticent about their health.

“They are so reticent about looking after themselves and their weight. We have all the same issues that women suffer but we are more likely to hit the medical catastrophes because we don’t do anything about it.

“I would love to see more men come through the door into the meetings because the men who come really enjoy it and have fantastic success,” explains Ian.

Another misconception can be that dieting can increase hunger.

“I have never been hungry. I have lost all this weight without ever having to be hungry and I think that is remarkable - being able to eat and not feeling hungry is just a big bonus,” says Ian.

Since losing his weight he is keen to maintain his new svelte figure. “I have gone from an XXL last year and just bought a medium slim fit shirt!

“It has completely and utterly turned my life around from a downward spiral and a miserable old age to being healthy, fit and feeling 20 years younger.”

Ian’s Weight Watchers coach, Natalie Bellenie, says: “Ian is such an inspiration and I’m so proud of what he’s achieved.

“I remember him contacting me before he joined, I was so impressed by the level of research he’d done and I’m delighted for him that he chose Weight Watchers as the healthy eating plan for him. The health and wellbeing benefits Ian has achieved since losing the weight really speak for themself.”

For more information about Ian's classes email dthompson@weight-watchers.co.uk.

Also celebrating his slimming success is David Boulding.

The 51-year-old from Cottingley weighed 15st 9 and a half pounds when he joined Weightwatchers in January with his fiancee Sharon.

David recalls being fed up of feeling tired all the time.

“Lacking in energy, although enjoying walking in the Yorkshire dales and walking in general, I was plagued by aches and pains my joints, especially in my knees.

“I was also fed up having different size clothes hanging in my wardrobe, not knowing whether a particular shirt or pair of trousers would fit or not!”

Through the Weight Watchers Flex programme David was still able to enjoy his social life and has already lost three stones in the process.

“I can still enjoy an evening meal out by planning and making better choices. Flex allows me to have a zero points breakfast such as fruit and fat free Greek yogurt, grilled chicken breast and salad for lunch giving my the flexibility to enjoy a night out.”

“I still have a few more pounds to reach goal but I know with the support from my Fiancee Sharon, group leader Alaba and other weight watcher members I will get there.”

Weight Watchers group leader, Alaba Driver says, “I am so proud of David , he joined my meeting seven short months ago and has followed the Flex plan to the letter, with support from Sharon his fiancee.

“David is a true weight loss inspiration and my members and I appreciate the weekly contributions he makes in our meeting.

For more information about Alaba's classes call 07724244954 or visit www.weightwatchers.com/uk.