AFTER suffering a series of health problems, 63-year-old Tony Martin was determined to start his retirement in better shape.

He weighed 20 stone and according to doctors, he had a 30 per cent chance of having a heart attack or stroke within the next ten years.

“It was a real wake-up call. I’d had gastric problems for years and a couple of falls – I was in a bit of a state. It was not a good way to go into retirement,” says Tony who worked for the Ministry of Defence and has since retired to live with his wife in Mudeford near Christchurch.

“I love food, one of my hobbies is cooking, that was part of the problem. The weight just gradually crept up over the years.”

Tony’s GP gave him a referral to join a slimming programme of his choice and to attend a fitness class at Two Rivers Meet Leisure Centre.

This proved to be a life-changing point in Tony’s life. He has now shed a total of six and a half stones, and dropped six clothes sizes within 16 months.

He says: “I lost 10 per cent of my total weight in 13 weeks. I love the fact I can go into clothes shops and buy off the peg items now.”

Tony is now keen to help others and has been accepted as a Slimming World Consultant.

“I am proof that it is possible to lose weight. I tried so many different diets over the years but nothing worked.

“This is the only eating regime that is sustainable for me.”

Tony will be running the group at St Georges Church in Jumpers Road, Christchurch, at 7pm from July 28.