Crack open the champagne (very slimming at only 90 calories a glass) and give yourselves a pat on the back. The Times Health Club is marking its first birthday by announcing our prize-winning Members of the Year. It's been a tremendous 12 months. About 1,500 of you are still signing up every month to join our 70,000 members. You have really made the club your own, offering each other support, forging new friendships and coming together for events such the Edinburgh Moonwalk.

You have helped us with the tough task of choosing a Member of the Year: Christopher Smith, and a runner- up, Julia Webb-Harvey, whose inspiring stories are on these pages. Other candidates included former airline pilot Simon Draine, 48, from Norfolk, who lost 5st in the four months after the club's launch. Art student Lucy Barfoot, 20, from Surrey, found inputting her calorie intake a big help in shedding 1st when shaping up for her degree show. And who could fail to be moved by Rosa Williams, 94, from Essex, our oldest member, who has gone from being able to manage only a few faltering steps to walking unaided.

But there's no time to rest on our - or rather your - laurels. We are aiming to bring you a better, brighter, even more user-friendly Health Club to leave you in great shape in 2009. Watch this space.

THE WINNER: Christopher Smith, 47, Cheshire

Prize: three flying lessons (in a light aircraft) worth £300 courtesy of Learn to Fly, www.learntofly.aero

Christopher, a former Member of the Month in August, was your landslide winner. Members were inspired by his achievement of losing 3st, conquering his fear of deep water and learning to swim, and reaching marathon-level fitness.

How I transformed my life

I have come a long way. A year ago, I would struggle to run for 200 yards and could manage only one sit-up - if that. I can now run six to seven miles a day and do 1,000 sit-ups in one session, having lost a total of 3½stsince the Health Club launched. I did this by cutting out saturated fats and salt, gave up alcohol and began exercising again after more than seven years of inactivity triggered by spondylosis (arthritis of the back). I got the ball rolling by taking up yoga, which strengthened my back enough for me to start running.

Using the tracking tools

The tracking tools and support from members are great. I used the tracking tools from day one to monitor both exercise and food and learnt so much from articles by Matt Roberts, the fitness expert, and Amanda Ursell, the Times nutritionist. The Health Club really is a fantastic tool. Occasionally, I dip into the forums; there's just so much support there between the members.

Cutting out alcohol

This time last year I was a big drinker. I would previously have probably had five or six cans of Guinness and a few glasses of wine or some Southern Comfort on a weekend. I hardly drink now. I just don't need it any more. Nowadays, I might have the odd glass of wine, but a glass lasts me about two hours.

My biggest triumph

My proudest achievement is learning to swim. In August, for the first time in my life, I swam in the sea when I went on holiday to California with my partner Debbie. It was a huge milestone for me. Until then I'd had an irrational fear of deep water. My success at losing weight and improved fitness gave me a new-found confidence. So I went to a class in July and I could swim a width by August. I have persevered and can now swim a few lengths, doing back stroke and breast stroke.

Variety keeps me motivated

I keep my fitness regimen varied.I rotate eightexercise disciplines; sometimes walking my little dog, Cheeky Monkey, for an hour, or running, swimming, cycling, using a step machine, cross-trainer, rowing machine, doing sit-ups on an abs lounger, or weight-lifting. I like interacting with lots of different activities because they make me feel much sharper.

Appetite for more

The Health Club has inspired me to sign up for an Open University course on diet, nutrition and health. I have always been interested in health and I have read so many interesting articles on the Health Club, which have fuelled my desire to know more. I never want to go back to the unhealthy lifestyle I had this time last year.

My next goal

I have signed up to do a triathalon in Malibu next September. That gives me just under 12 months. I'm at a stable weight of 11½st and I manage my diet to a point where I don't want to lose any more weight. I've started on this road and I'm not giving up. I feel honoured and proud to have been voted Member of the Year. The other night I signed on to the Health Club to log my food and exercise, as I do every day, and saw a banner asking: “Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired?” and it struck a chord. I have my own motto now: “It feels great to feel great.” And I do.

RUNNER-UP: Julia Webb-Harvey, 40, West Sussex

Member of the Month: November

Prize: Technogym equipment (wellness rack, ball and pad worth over £500) www.technogym.com

Julia's body shape has really changed since signing up to the Health Club a year ago. Her legs are much more toned, but, more importantly, her new-found passion for running has helped to bring her previously high blood pressure back to normal. Members felt she spoke for them when she reported finding support and inspiration within the club that she couldn't get anywhere else in her life.

I pack my trainers with stilettos

The power of the Health Club is incredible. When I was Member of the Month in November I had just completed the 10-mile Great South Run in aid of Mosac, a charity that supports non-abusing parents and carers whose children have been sexually abused, which I volunteer for. It was amazing. I've kept up the good work. I recently accompanied my husband on a business trip to Hong Kong and Sydney. I took my trainers alongside my ball dress and stilettos. It was so hot in Australia that I wasn't motivated to go running, but then I logged on to the Health Club one day and was about to start chatting to people in the Runnerbeans group when I realised that I just couldn't lie to them, so I had to sneak off and do a run!

I'm back in the saddle

I hurt my shoulder in November, which was preventing me from going riding again. I either go for a lesson or a good long hack every week. It's bloody hard work! It makes me work muscles in my legs and bottom that I didn't realise I had. I'm going to start Pilates soon because I need to develop strength in the core muscles that support your riding position.

Running, riding and... sailing

I'm about to add sailing to my repertoire of running, riding and dancing. My husband is planning to retire next year and we have just ordered a boat, so I'm looking forward to doing something with him and learning a new skill. I have also entered the British Open 10km run next summer and plan to do another one between now and then.

I have achieved a good balance

I allow myself to be indulgent as long as I have geared myself up to do the exercise as payback. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. It's an attitude that really helps as I take a longer-term view of my fitness and it makes the changes I've made more sustainable.

Hardest working groups this year

Newcastle SunWalk

Edinburgh MoonWalk

Go Cycling! Club

Virgin Triathletes

The Official London Marathon

Ab Fab

Knackered Knees

OAP Nearly

Sailing Fitness

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