A FORMER body builder who was forced to quit the gym has told of his weight-loss journey.

Neil Harper, 47, of Distington, started gaining weight when joint pain prevented him from doing body building.

The delivery-driver had to reach out to his GP for pain relief, with his problem exacerbated by his weight gain.

But after he joined the Whitehaven Slimming World club, he lost 10.5 lbs in the first week alone. He went on to lose a total of 3st 10lbs, which in turn reduced his joint pain.

Neil said: “I never thought Slimming World would work for me.

“Because every weight loss thing I’ve ever done meant going hungry. I couldn’t believe how I lost 10.5 lbs in my first week because I’d eaten loads and I was really full – potatoes, rice, pasta, steak, chips, pizza.

“It really has changed my life and I tell everyone about it.”