In the second of his monthly columns for

Sentinelle

, Paul Fairclough, from Signal 2, talks about his personal battle to lose weight after tipping the scales at 38 stone six pounds and his bid for a life-changing gastric bypass operation...

YOU MAY have already read my columns regarding my weight loss.

I started my Hypno-Band treatment 18 weeks ago and this month have lost a further stone, taking my total now to six stone in that time.

As I said in last month's article, it is sometimes hard to stay on track but an important part of any diet is exercise. Your calories out must exceed your calories in. Many people think exercise is walking or running for miles or spending fortunes on personal trainers.

Actually you can exercise without spending. I now do a series of exercises during the music on my show in the studio. This includes stomping on the spot for the duration of two songs, arm raises above the head (50 of those) and leg extensions, just lifting and lowering your legs while seated (50 of these too). These are all possible even if you work in an office. Liz Ellis from Signal 1 who is in the studio opposite even joins in despite being pregnant.

It really helps if the people around you encourage you and take part, it makes it much easier to stick to. I go to the Spirit Health Club in Clayton.

Dave and his staff there give great advice for starting gently and then building up exercises in either the gym or swimming pool.

If you are overweight you may find swimming the better option as you have the weightlessness on your joints.

If you are obese, people say 'what are you looking forward to after losing weight?'

Some of my aims may seem strange to someone who is slim but trust me, after talking to a number of dieters, these are hopes we all share such as: getting on a plane and not needing an extension seat belt, going to the theatre and fitting in a seat comfortably, going and buying clothes off the peg in a normal high street store and finally moving the seat forward in the car, instead of having it back as far as it will go.

I'm sure you could add to this list.

I mentioned support of colleagues. This also extends to family and as I've found out writing this column, even people who I have never met before.

I have to thank all of those who have come up to me in the street and in some cases even at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire while I've been in for appointments.

It's those comments that really spur you on to go even further and achieve more.

I'll be back next month as I continue to head further towards possible gastric surgery.