If you are wanting to lose weight for health reasons, a special family occasion or a holiday on the beach then Active West Lancs. has just the plan for you!

Active Weight is a free interactive weight management programme offering information, support and guidance around weight loss/management with an opportunity to be weighed at the beginning of each session; pictured is Stuart Clensy, who lost weight through the scheme.

Meetings include a short weekly presentation covering a variety of topics which guide weight loss with a focus on improving health and wellbeing; participants will also receive a free booklet/guide to support the course. A recent course held at the Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre was a great success, with one person claiming the course had 'changed their life', with another saying they would not have lost weight without the weekly meetings.

In total 17 people took part and the combined weight loss for the group was more than 11 stone. The average weight loss was 11lb with five participants losing more than a stone and one losing more than two stone.

14 participants lowered their body mass index which will have a direct positive impact on their long term health.

As a result of the course at least six participants have accessed the Active West Lancs Active Gym programme; all participants commented on how having the support of the programme motivated and inspired them to lose weight, and how following the programme has made this easy and achievable.

Everyone who took part expressed feeling more healthy with a greater feeling of wellbeing, and had a better understanding of good nutrition and the importance of being as active as possible to improve their weight and health.

So if this sound like a course that will help you then sign up by calling the Active West Lancs. office.

Courses are at:

·Burscough Methodist Church Hall, Orrell Lane, Burscough, Tuesdays, 9.30am-10.30am
·Hesketh Bank Community Centre, Station Road, Hesketh Bank, Tuesdays, 1.30pm and 2.30pm
·Skelmersdale Library, Southway, Skelmersdale, Wednesdays, 9.30am-10.30am
·Scarisbrick Village Hall, Smithy Lane, Scarisbrick, Wednesdays, 1.30pm-2.30pm
·Christ Church Ministry Centre, Long Lane, Ormskirk, Thursdays, 10am-11am

Heidi McDougall, Director of Leisure and Environment, said: "These courses are proven to help people lose weight so sign up for one today."