We dress up in our finery for the office Christmas party feeling good about ourselves, and then our confidence takes a nosedive when we see ourselves on a photograph.

That's exactly what happened last Christmas to 23-year-old Jeanette-Marie Small who works in the accounts department at Marshalls, Landscape House, Elland. But instead of reaching for the biscuit tin for comfort, Jeanette-Marie decided it was time she took control of life.

She banned takeaways and wine during the week, starting walking three miles to work every day and joined the gym which has resulted in her losing three-and-a-half stone and going from a dress size 18 to a 12.

Now her fantastic achievement has been marked by her bosses at work who set up a "lose weight" challenge to their 700 employees during the summer. Fifteen teams took part, with Jeanette-Marie's Account Beauties winning the top award. Jeanette-Marie also scooped the individual prize, easily losing the most weight.

The challenge, for Halifax and Hudd-ersfield staff, was organised with the help of health improvement specialists from Calderdale Primary Care Trust who went into Marshalls for four months, weighing staff and checking on their fat and hydration levels.

It was such a big success – staff lost more than 20 stone – the company has now signed up to a two year health programme with the trust looking at exercise, healthy eating and emotional well being. "We take the health, safety and welfare of our staff very seriously and this initiative shows it.

"We were pleased with the numbers who took part in the weight-loss challenge and think Jeanette-Marie's achievement is remark-able," says Dave Cockroft, Marshalls' health and safety adviser.

Jeanette-Marie, who lives in Lindley, Hudd-ersfield, started on her health-kick at the beginning of the year but says the challenge at work definitely helped keep her motivated and on track.

"I saw photographs of myself at last year's Christmas party and wanted to cry.

"It made me realise there and then that I had to do something about my weight," she says.

The photograph in question (which Jean-ette-Marie is too em-barrassed to reveal) is on her fridge door and also helps keep her going.

"It was hard work at first sticking to my new healthy eating and exercise regimen but I am now used to it and am thrilled with the new me," says Jeanette-Marie who used to play base guitar in a band.

"And I can't wait for this year's Christmas party. I'm going to have a ball."