Do you want to drop a dress size in time for Christmas, or shape up for summer for a great bikini body?

Well, no, not really.

There can be few more harrowing images than the sight of me in a little black dress, except perhaps John Sergeant wearing a Borat-style mankini doing a rumba on Weston beach.

But it seems that when you take the first tentative steps on the road to weight loss, you find yourself walking into a woman's world.

As a man with a serious weight problem I have found that while there is an entire global industry aimed at helping women lose weight, however there is very little for men.

Of course there are the magazines with those black and white images of the perfect man adorning the cover, with bold claims that 'you too can get a washboard stomach within 12 weeks'.

But the reality I suspect is that those well meaning publications are only taken seriously by 19-year-old featherweight gym bunnies who probably need help of a different kind.

What they should have on the front instead is a picture of me looking sweaty and fighting for breath after the massive effort of walking from my desk to the printer and back.

So I thought it was time to appeal to my fellow man and find out how they are coping in the hope of passing on experiences and stories from the front line of the war on obesity.

But that doesn't mean I want to exclude women from contributing, all help is welcome, I just want to encourage a few male voices to speak up in the great weight debate.

Personally I have set myself the goal of losing 8st, which sounds like a lot, and it is, but I think it is achievable.

In fact I am pleased to say I have already lost just about a stone since I started on my new regime on October 6, and I already feel much better.

I'm not exactly dusting off my slim-fit Levis and hiding behind lampposts, but it is nice to feel healthy again and a little less like a barrage balloon about to go bang.

My start weight was 18st 8lbs, which a 7 ft basketball player may be able to carry, but does nothing for a short ginger bloke.

According to all the best information on the web, the ideal weight for my height should be between 10st 5lbs and 11 st 5lbs.

I have done this by doing what all the doctors and plain common sense tells you, which is to eat less fatty food and do more exercise.

I have heard of all sorts of 'sleb crash diets, including living off nothing but honey and cabbage, or drinking a litre of yak's milk a day.

But I have found the best and most sustainable way to lose weight is to stop snacking between meals, eat fruit and veg instead of chips and chocolate, get a decent night's sleep and get off your backside.

Most importantly though, I found the motivation to get started in the first place and sought help from a reputable weight loss club, and roped in some friends to get me out of the house to start exercising.

It was my GP that recommended joining a slimming club, after I had asked whether there was a magic pill I could pop to make me slim, good looking and rich.

Apparently there isn't, but joining the club was a fantastic piece of advice, despite the terrifying moment of first walking into a room full of women and standing out like a big fat sore thumb.

Once you get over that first fright, you will discover how helpful and supportive other members can be, you're truly among friends.

And as a man, it doesn't actually make you a big girl just because you have signed up.

In order to keep your man badge you can of course do very macho things like take up running or playing football regularly.

I have set myself the goal of running the Bristol half marathon next year, and maybe the London Marathon the year after that.

Although having witnessed a few friends lose themselves to the gruelling training regime for that event, I might just wait and see.

For now though I am pleased to be making progress with each weekly weigh-in which this week was 17st 9lbs.

I must be the only man in Bristol who is actually happy about losing more and more pounds on a weekly basis.