Man praises gym staff after losing 12 stones

Damien Lambert, who weighed over 25 stones three years ago, had a wake-up call when he found he needed to book an extension to his seat belt during a flight and could not go on rides at Alton Towers.

Then he fell down the stairs and had to have three months off work after injuring his coccyx at the base of his spine.

When a colleague told him about a school friend who appeared in a national newspaper after losing eight stones, he felt inspired to do the same.

Thanks to a dramatic change in his diet and rigorous exercise regime, the 33-year-old lost 12 stone in weight.

Mr Lambert joined the clubactive gym at Richard Dunn Sports Centre in Bradford after a year of dieting.

He said: "I really felt nervous about my first visit as I felt there would be a stigma having never set foot in a gym before. However, I couldn't believe how quickly the staff put me at ease. They were very approachable and gave me ideas about getting fit and losing weight."

The gym put Mr Lambert on a programme of cardiovascular training and weight resistance work and he started taking part in spinning classes at the centre.

His training soon increased to one hour work-outs in the gym five or six times a week.

Mr Lambert, of Bierley, Bradford, is due to be presented with a b active award from Bradford Council today in recognition of his determination to battle past a range of health problems by getting fit.

"Before I started exercising I couldn't walk up the hill to Richard Dunn Sports Centre, but now I run up it. I really enjoy the keep-fit classes and all the staff are so friendly and have given me so much support," he said.