A 56-year-old north Suffolk man has lost 8 stone 7 pounds in eight months after facing the embarrassment of not being able to do his seat belt up on an aeroplane.

Eastern Daily Press: Andrew Smith-Howell of Bungay who has lost 8st 7lb in just eight months.Andrew Smith-Howell of Bungay who has lost 8st 7lb in just eight months. (Image: Archant)

Andrew Smith-Howell of Bungay weighed 20 stone 7 pounds in June 2013, and was putting huge strain on his health with high blood pressure and asthma.

But after suffering the unforgettable experience of sitting uncomfortably for the whole flight because he was too embarrassed to ask for a seatbelt extension, Mr Smith-Howell decided to change his eating habits and join the gym, and has gone from a size 4XL to a medium or large.

He said: 'I had tried dieting before but always given up after a couple of weeks. The incident on the plane really hit home for me.

'Before I lost the weight every day work and home life would leave me out of breath. Now I feel like a new man. In fact, I look so different that people I haven't seen for a while say they don't recognise me! I feel happier and healthier, my blood pressure is normal, I've got more energy and I'm much more confident too.'

Mr Smith-Howell is a Norwich City fan and said he used to struggle with the 10-minute walk from the car park to the football ground. Now he goes to the gym five nights a week, and as well as cutting down on fast food, crisps, chocolate and bread, he joined the Slimming World group in Bungay.

He said: 'Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I've ever done, I was embarrassed and terrified that I was going to be the biggest person there. But I needn't have worried because everyone there was so very friendly and welcoming.

'People think slimming means going hungry, eating nothing but salad, obsessively counting every calorie you eat and weighing everything on your plate, but it's not like that at Slimming World. I still enjoy all my favourite meals like burgers and chips and roast dinners but I've learned how to make small changes like using lean meat or low calorie cooking spray instead of oil or butter.'

For information about Bungay's Slimming World group contact Sharon Webber on 07877814176.