Super slimmer sheds 17 stone (From York Press)

Super slimmer Matthew Briggs, of Strensall, sheds 17 stone

12:00pm Thursday 29th December 2011 in News Exclusive By Jennifer Bell, jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk

IT WAS on Christmas Day two years ago that a family photo around the dinner table spurred a super slimmer on an incredible weight loss journey that has seen him lose 17 stone.

A snap of Matthew Briggs posing next to his dad was posted on Facebook and the 29-year-old said he was shocked by his weight.

When the picture was taken, he weighed 31 stone three-and-a-half pounds and had to shop in specialist stores to fit his XXXXXL frame and his 56 ins waistline.

Matthew said he looked “huge” and joined slimming world with his step-mum, with a bet from his father spurring him on.

“My dad encouraged me by saying he would pay for the first 12 weeks – but if I hadn’t lost anything by then I would have to pay him every single penny back.

“I managed to lose 12 lbs in the first week and since then it has been a steady decrease.”

By Christmas last year he had lost ten stone and he has now lost a further seven – bringing his weight to 14 stone three and a half pounds.

Matthew, who now has a 34 ins waistline and can shop on the high street, said people now do a double take when they see him and at one Christmas party a former manager he had not seen for two years did not recognise him.

“He was gobsmacked when he realised it was me,” Matthew said. “I get that a lot.”

Matthew, of Strensall, managed to lose the pounds by swapping pre-packaged meals, takeaways and his daily indulgence of a two-litre bottle of full-fat cola with three regular healthy meals a day.

He now exercises four or five times a week at a gym and has recently started a Zumba class with local women from his village.

Matthew said he was active in his younger teens, but when his mum became ill with multiple sclerosis and he had more responsibility at home exercise fell by the wayside. Consequently, he said, the weight began to creep on.

Matthew said he was enjoying giving “something back” by inspiring fellow dieters at two Slimming World classes he runs in Holgate and Strensall since he became a consultant for the weight loss group earlier this year.

“I love it,” he said. “I have a board up showing my before pictures and people cannot believe that person is me. I think it inspires people and makes other think they can do the same.

“I still want to lose about another five and a half pounds, but my weight loss is slow and steady now.”

When asked the best part of losing the weight, Matthew said: “I have a jaw line and an Adam’s apple for the first time. My muscles are defined and I feel so healthy.

MATTHEW’S VITAL STATISTICS

BEFORE

WAISTLINE: 56 inches
WEIGHT: 31 stone three-and-a-half pounds
ATE/DRANK: Takeaways, prepacked food, normal cola

AFTER

WAISTLINE: 34 inches
WEIGHT: 14 stone and three-and-half pounds
ATE/DRANK: Healthy home-cooked meals and diet cola