It was when theme park staff stopped Steven Little getting on a Harry Potter ride that he realised it was time to tackle his weight problem.
Mr Little, a fishmonger from Norwich, was 'gutted' when he was denied entry to a ride in the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, USA, earlier this year due to his 21-stone (133kg) body.
But since then the 32-year old, who lives in Old Catton, has shed stone after stone thanks to a determined slimming campaign, which has seen him reduce his weight to a healthy 14.5-stone (92kg).
'Up to that point I had just ignored my weight,' Mr Little said.
'I had struggled with my weight since I was ten years old, and my eating habits had got worse the older I got.
'I ate takeaways, constantly snacked, and I ate because I wasn't happy - and I wasn't happy because I kept eating.'
After being turned down for the Harry Potter ride Mr Little joined a Slimming World group.
He improved his diet, but was still able to eat the foods he loved, such as steak, burgers, and chips.
Mr Little, who works for Cromer-based Gourmet Shellfish, also joined Bannatynes, his local gym, where he worked out up to five days per week.
Now he has abandoned his XXL tops and 42-inch trousers. and said he is in the best form of his life.
'I feel I have got much more energy,' he said.
'I used to just work and then not do anything when I got home because I felt like I had no time, but now I feel I have time because I have more energy.' Mr Little is now keen to show other people how they can lose weight, and he has become Slimming World's first male consultant in Norwich - where new classes will be held from next year. His first class starts on January 4 at Wensum Junior School at 7.30pm.
For more information call Mr Little on 07585 702854. H
Have you got a health story? Email nicholas.carding@archant.co.uk
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