A dad was shamed into losing half his body weight when he was too fat to fit on an Alton Towers ride.
Blake Lewis, 33, weighed 23 stone and was left humiliated when he was told he was too big to get on the ride with his young daughter.
He was at the park with his wife Laura, 35, and their children Sophie, five, and Toby, six, on May 29 last year.
But Blake was unable to ride the Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom roundabout-style ride in CBeebies Land because the safety bar wouldnt fit over his large belly.
The dad was then left red-faced as he was then ordered off the ride for health and safety reasons leaving his daughter in tears.
It led to Blake going on a diet and in just under 18 months, he lost an impressive 10 stone - dropping from a 40 inch waist size to a 32 inch.
Blake did not join any weight loss groups and managed to reach 12-and-a-half stone all by himself as a result of healthy eating and regular exercise.
Blake, a care assistant from Derbyshire, said: "I had always wanted to lose weight ever since having children but never had the will power.
Id take my children to the park and play with them and thought I could probably run better than a lot of slim people.
I did hear about some of my overweight friends getting diagnosed with heart disease and type 2 diabetes, but it was not fitting in the ride that did it for me.
My daughter Sophie didnt understand why we couldnt go on the ride because we had sat down alright.
I knew I was big but when I couldnt get the belt over my stomach I thought: This doesnt happen to people every day. Something is not right.
We were told to get off and Sophie was upset because she had to wait while her brother went on the ride with her mum. There were a few tears.
There was no nastiness from anyone but from that point I said to myself: I cant let this happen again.
I imagined other people in the queue were thinking Oh dear. I probably would have thought the same.
"That's when I thought enough was enough and I needed to do something about my size."
Blake had piled on the pounds with his addiction to junk food and would often gorge on takeaways, burgers, fries or crisps.
But he reduced his food intake from up to five thousand to a thousand calories a day by cooking healthier meals and freezing them for the week.
Blake also started walking the one-and-a half mile journey to work and set up a homemade gym in his garage.
He added: "I saw myself as addicted to junk food, mainly savoury things like pies, burgers, fries, and crisps.
Now if I see a pork pie Im not bothered but before I thought: Ive got to have it.
"I could devour three to five thousand calories a day, sometimes more.
But now Ive gone cold turkey I dont get the cravings anymore.
Its all about will power, being disciplined and cutting out the rubbish.
Some of my friends and family say Im an inspiration and a few colleagues at work who want to lose weight ask for advice.
I tell them to do what I did and Google healthy foods and recipes. They key is meal prepping.
Every Sunday Id prepare healthy meals and freeze them or put them in the fridge.
When Id come home hungry Id have one instead of burger and chips.
I did it completely by myself. I didnt go to Slimming World or Weight Watchers or anything like that.
Stick at it hard for the first few weeks then youll be encouraged when the pounds start coming off.
I have a slim blend vanilla milkshake in the morning which replaces breakfast and lunch then lean meat with vegetables in the evening.
I dont snack and I drink diet coke instead of a litre of full-fat stuff I used to.
I stopped driving to work and started walking. I run a bit and set up a gym in the garage. My family and friends were very pleased for me.
Some were concerned that the weight dropped off so quickly that Id make myself poorly.
"In fact, Ive never been healthier.
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Dad was 23 stone and too fat to fit on ride at Alton Towers - but look at him now - ExaminerLive
