Super slimmer crowned Mr Sleek 2017 after shedding SIX STONE in six months

A man who dropped a staggering SIX STONE in just half a year has been named Slimming World’s Mr SLeek 2017.

Liam Smith, from Normanton in West Yorkshire, dropped from 19st to 13st and lost an incredible 10 inches from his waist, after having to buy an XXL shirt prompted a complete lifestyle overhaul.

The 25-year-old, who used to gorge on McDonald’s for breakfast and takeaways or ready meals for dinner, joined Slimming World in May last year in a bid to battle the bulge.

MORE: Boots lorry with brilliantly ironic branding breaks down and blocks entire road
MORE: Twins found dead at Dover Cliffs ‘may have slipped while scattering their mother’s ashes’

Now, after proudly being named Slimming World’s Mr Sleek 2017, Liam hopes to inspire other young men to lose weight too.

He said: “I’m much more confident and I love sharing pictures on social media now. Since seeing what I’ve been able to achieve lots of people I know have started slimming too.

“I feel so passionate about it that I’ve decided to open my own Slimming World group to help more people lose weight like I have.”

The support worker, who competed at badminton and played football as a youngster, began to gain weight when he went to university and stopped doing sport.

In just a few years he went from being an athletic 10st to tipping the scales at 19st – causing his confidence to fall dramatically.

He said he found it difficult to find clothes to fit and hated seeing photos of himself so much that he often untagged himself on social media.

But it was in May last year after celebrating his birthday weekend with his friends – and having to buy an XXL shirt for the occasion – that he decided to make a change.

Mr Smith added: “We had a really unhealthy weekend – McDonald’s breakfasts, takeaways, lots of alcohol – and the moment they went home I knew I had to do something about my size.

“Luckily my mum was joining Slimming World the following week so I made her promise to take me along.”

Mr Smith said he was “so nervous” on his first visit, because it “didn’t feel like something many males in their mid-20s do” – but soon became friends with the other members.

By November last year, six months after joining, he had reached his target weight and had lost 6st – with his waist line shrinking from 42in to 32in.

Now enjoying a diet of chicken salads, omelettes and home-made potato wedges, he has also become more active by joining a local football team, as well as getting back into badminton, joining a gym, walking and cycling.

Mr Smith’s ambition is now to train to become a football coach, and has said he would love to try skydiving and bungee jumping – activities he was previously too heavy to attempt.

Top pic: PA