Losing weight is usually thought of as a massive strain, but Colin Petchey found it easier than he could ever have imagined. Colin, 20, from North Shields, used the Great Wall of China and a career in the Navy as his inspiration to shed the pounds. And he is fast becoming a role model in his group at Slimming World in Whitley Bay, having lost four stones and 10lbs since he began his programme in September, when he tipped the scales at 26 stones. He lost 5lbs in his first week alone. But he's not content yet. "My aim is 15 stones," Colin enthuses. The young North Shields slimmer said he first got started because he was planning a trip to China in October this year and he didn't want his size and weight to affect him on the long flight over. He said: "I have always been overweight, ever since I was six years old." Before Colin started slimming, though, he first sought medical advice. He went to a GP but he didn't find it very helpful. He said: "They gave me eating plans which were very hard to follow. "I was only weighed once a month, so after about a week or so the temptations were too big. It didn't really work." But he found Slimming World much more helpful. He said: "It's total encouragement from the start. "They'll talk to you on a one-to-one basis about what you can and can't have on which day." He continued: "I've been getting a lot of support from members of the group and my family." And he's not the only one the diet has worked for. His mum Kathy, 52, who works as a cook, came with him in the beginning and now she has lost two stones. She does most of the cooking at home and, together with Colin, she experiments with the different recipes provided from the group. Colin also told how the programme provided by his Slimming World group at the Voluntary Services Centre allows for `green days'. These are days when you can eat all you want. And they are every other day. "I never had any problems with this diet" he said. "It is really easy to follow and there are no temptations. You could add chocolate to it if you wanted. The only thing I've cut out is bread." Norma Gregg from Slimming World explained: "We use a system of green days and red days. On green days we have lots of free food such as pasta, rice and potatoes. "On red days we have fish, meat and poultry." The diet has proved effective. But Colin reveals there is more to his success than just following a diet: "I've been going to a gym in Tynemouth and I work at Wet & Wild as both a kitchen assistant and a lifeguard." The job as a lifeguard itself requires two hours' training a week. He explains how he's doing this in his pursuit of a Royal Navy career, following the footsteps of his father and two brothers: "I'm at college doing electrical engineering, and I want to continue doing that in the Navy." He believes it would probably still see him as too overweight, which is why he is sticking persistently to his diet in order to fulfil his lifelong ambition. He has also been helping out others in the group. Norma Gregg said: "Colin is a popular member of the group and everyone is delighted with his weight loss." "He's fantastic. I just use him as a good example for everybody." She added: "He also helps to welcome other male members who join because he knows how he felt on his first time." Norma says Colin's help is so valuable she would like to keep him on as a part of the staff: "If he wasn't going to the Navy I'd ask him to become a consultant. But I can't really ask that of him, with his Navy plans and all, can I?" Even though his weight never caused him any physical problems, Colin has seen several things change for the better. "I couldn't buy clothes in shops before," he said. "I had to order them over the internet. But now I can actually go shopping in Newcastle and find clothes that fit me in shops in the high streets." He added: "I can play football for a lot longer. Basically, I'm just feeling good about myself." With such a drastic improvement of lifestyle, Colin recommends his diet enthusiastically, saying: "It's good because you are never hungry on this diet. You can always have what you want." Slimming World prides itself with having helped more than three million people lose weight since it started in 1969. To find a Slimming World class near you, call (0191) 237 4276 or visit its website, www.slimmingworld.co.uk Remember to seek medical advice before starting any diet. ********** Warning to heavier youngsters Children aged eight to 15 who are in the upper half of the `normal' weight range are more likely than leaner youngsters to grow up fat, new research showed today. It was already known that overweight or obese children have an increased chance of being heavyweight adults. But scientists in America have found that even children who are not considered overweight, but are slightly heavier than average, are at risk. Those in the upper half of the normal weight range, as measured by Body Mass Index (BMI), were five times more likely to be overweight eight to twelve years later than those in the lower half. BMI is calculated by multiplying a person's height in metres by itself, then dividing bodyweight in kilos by his or her height squared. A BMI of 19-24.9 is considered healthy, 25-29.9 overweight, and above 30 obese. Senior researcher Dr Matthew Gillman, from Harvard Medical School, said: "We must focus not only on the most obese kids but also on those who are just a bit overweight." | 
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