AN award-winning personal trainer is back in the gym with a man who previously lost twenty stone to save his life but has since regained more than 11 stone during lockdown.

With the support and guidance of Mike Hind MBE, Darren ‘Dibsy’ McClintock, 30, from Middlesbrough, became a weight-loss star and saw his story shared throughout the world, as he completed a number of fitness challenges he could never have dreamed of before.

Mr Hind banned Mr McClintock from takeaway shops as he delivered a free bespoke coaching programme for the 30-year-old.

Which saw him lose a whopping 20 stone in only 358 days.

But now, Mr McClintock feels he has “messed up” by regaining more than 11 stone.

However, Mr Hind - has put together another bespoke coaching programme and balanced diet plan for the former weight-loss star.

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Mr Hind, who wants to inspire others who have put on weight over lockdown and show diet and exercise are preferable to weight loss surgery when it comes overcoming obesity.

He is determined to train Mr McClintock within safe limits due to his heart condition.

Mr McClintock was shown the results of a state-of-the-art 3D body scan, which shows he is heading back to being a life-threatening 40 stone if he doesn’t act.

Since then, Mr McClintock has already lost one of the 11 stones he had regained.

After he lost 20 stones, Mr McClintock had a number of appointments about the skin surgery, but it still hadn’t gone ahead when lockdown hit, leaving him feeling increasingly unhappy with his body, despite being much healthier.

The return of his heart problems also affected his ability to work out and he returned to comfort eating.

After seeing his confidence take a nosedive in recent months he recently sold his motorbike, as he felt uncomfortable riding it.

He also admits having a bath is uncomfortable and he can’t fit into his car comfortably.

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Speaking of his motivation, determined Mr McClintock added: “I’ve got a holiday next year and at my current weight, I would feel uncomfortable getting on a plane or ready for the beach.

“I want to get a nice coat for Christmas – I could have got one when I was 21 stone.

“I want to be back to 21 stone.

“I would have been happy with that if I didn’t have the excess skin.

“I’m not quite as heavy as I was, but I’m gutted, which also makes me determined to lose the weight again.”

He now works at Mr Hind’s diner, and believes he is now surrounding himself with “the right people”.

He is enjoying being back in the gym, as tough as the workouts are for him.

Mr McClintock added: “It’s intense and hard but I know I need to stick with it.

“It felt good before to be inspiring people by showing them what can be done with the right guidance.

“I feel lucky and massively grateful to have been given a second chance to train again with Mike and if I eat the right foods and train hard, I will get back to where I was.”

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