A FATHER-OF-FOUR has told how the heartache of being too unfit to play with his children in the park inspired him to shed almost half of his body weight.

Stan Levy, from Darlington, weighed 37 stones just two-and-a-half years ago.

He had high blood pressure, sleep apnoea and was frequently troubled by chest infections as a result of his asthma.

The 38-year-old tipped the scales at 20 stones and 5lb on his most recent weigh-in, meaning he has lost almost 17 stones.

He has achieved it by cutting out alcohol, eating healthily and following a challenging exercise regime.

Mr Levy praised trainer Stephen Egglestone and the rest of the staff at the Dolphin Centre gym, where he works out.

He said: “Without him and the rest of the team, none of this would have been possible. I don't just feel like they have helped me lose weight, but also helped saved my life.

“I feel loads better, like a different man, so much healthier and fitter.”

As well as his regular gym sessions, Mr Levy enjoys cycling and now rides hundreds of miles a week.

When he started out on his weight loss journey, it took him 45 minutes to cycle from his home in Red Hall to the nearby village of Middleton St George, a trip he now completes in a third of the time.

Mr Levy, who still hopes to lose another two stones, added: “It is getting harder, I am having to choose between doing more and more exercise or eating less.

“I train between six and eight hours a week, including riding my bike.”

As a result of losing so much weight, Mr Levy’s health has improved – his asthma rarely troubles him and he has greatly reduced medication for his blood pressure.

Mr Levy says his nearest and dearest are ‘over the moon’ at the transformation.

He added: “My son is 14, he comes to the gym with me. Before I lost the weight, I couldn’t even push them on the swings in the park.

“I had to sit and watch them play – now they have to keep up with me.”